By Ori Martins
I expected the Sunday, February 16, 2025, Premier League match between Heartland of Owerri and Shooting Stars of Ibadan at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, to be tough and tension soaked.
Shooting Stars have a rich history that is more than six decades old. Heartland used to be one of the most respected teams in the country. As Spartans, they played to the final of WAFU Cup in 1982 when WAFU used to be respected and had sub regional cult following. As Iwuanyanwu Nationale, they were five times Nigerian league champions and in 1988 played to the final of the elusive CAF Champions League. Since metamorphosing into Heartland, they have been Federation Cup winners twice as well grabbing silver in the Champions League.
The two coaches, Emmanuel Amunike and Gbenga Ogunbote have proved their worth on their previous duty posts, respectively. Amunike in the junior national teams, and Ogunbote, with various Premier League clubs. Thus, the stage was set for a beautiful game to be enjoyed by the fans.
Really, the two sides were equal to the challenges of the day. Heartland dominated the midfield in the first half while Shooting Stars adapted the long ball strategy to frustrate their host’s dominance in the midfield. Eventually, Heartland got the curtain raiser before the end of first half.
However, the referee, Kolawole Emmanuel from Kwara State Sports Council, could not effectively control the game in the second half. Heartland attackers made the Shooting Stars defence defence to look ordinary but were on several occasions denied by the ever calculating goalkeeper of the visitors who combined Emmanuel Okala’s alertness, Best Ogedegbe’s calmness and Vincent Enyeama’s agility.
About the 84 minute, the referee committed one of those blunders very clearly associated with most Nigerian referees. He signalled for penalty for a foul committed outside the penalty box. It was a most shameful act. It was one of those actions of Nigerian referees that certainly makes CAF not to shortlist them for continental assignments, particularly the Nations Cup. When was it last that Nigerian referee participated in any FIFA organized competitions?
If not the maturity of Owerri fans who comported themselves accordingly, the situation would have gone out of hand and the worse might have happened. Thus, why did the referee take that kind dubious decision?
The authorities of the Nigeria Premier League and the NFF must always ensure that the bad eggs in the Nigeria Referee Association are shown the exit door in order to make the Nigerian league better, bigger and more attractive.
The game eventually ended 2- 1 as the referee awarded a penalty to Heartland which was taken twice following the insistence of the referee that Shooting Stars goalkeeper moved before the first penalty was taken.
