WHY SAMSON SIASIA STADIUM SHOULD BE BANNED FOR LIFE

"...It's only stadium that has one entrance and exit . "

"... It's a stadium that puts everyone in danger."

"..It's a stadium which allows herbalist to walk round the stadium splashing voodoo during a live match(NPFL)"

"Those who approved the Stadium to host NPFL matches should be investigated"

The above reactions and many more are curled from league followers. 

It has been reported severally from good number of Referees, Match Commissioners, journalists Opposing teams, and other critical stakeholders who went on official assignments at Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa on what they passed through and thank God for coming back alive . 

Some even vowed never to visit Bayelsa United stadium again. These are unheralded testimonies curled from fans of from NPFL Clubs that visited Yenagoa against Bayelsa United.

Restoration Boys would have thought they had used every act of hooliganism,  violence and unsportsmanlike drama, attacking opposing goalkeeper and splashed unsolicited, unverified substance on the goalkeeper and net that made him unconscious for more than 15 minutes and Suddenly after that, 2 goals went into the net. 

Hmnn, this happened under the close watch of the club management and state FA as both collided to bring the league to disrepute all in the name of getting 3 maximum points for the Restoration Boys.

The most shameful decision from the supposed league management was to slam Bayelsa United a paltry sum of #3M which ordinary fan can pay to ensure the club's safety at topflight of Nigeria league.

How on earth would a sane person expects a trained journalist to report this league in good light when those saddled with the responsibilities to ensure sanity have already compromised standard. While some clubs like Gombe, Remo lost 3 points, others are deemed as sacred cows.

Alas, Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL will be the first team to allow herbalist to walk round the stadium splashing voodoo across, only for the unofficial person to have the lattitude to run into the pitch  and splashed a concocted and unverified substance on the goalkeeper and did same inside the net during a live match . The response from the league was just a fine of #3m. Is god of NPFL Management not wonderful?

Some critical stakeholders have alleged the league management of NPFL and Its expedient for them to have a rethink on their persistent double standard against some clubs if they really want the league to attract investors . Alternatively, it may go the way of LMC which to me is too early as Shehu Dikko still had a sterling performance in his first 4 years before this kind of Double Standard overshadowed his efforts. 

It's no longer a news that Bayelsa United is known for a club that brings touts and hooligans to threaten team officials, Referees and other opposing players with enclosed stadium that lacks adequate security men and stadium stewards expected in global practice 

Samson Siasia stadium has been allegedly reported to have largest number of deadly fans secretly armed with ammunitions to stadium (though not yet substantiated but investigation ongoing).

Reactions from stakeholders that trailed the barbaric actions at Samson Siasia stadium on Sunday 17th of June, 2024 in one of the Match Day 37 fixtures between Bayelsa United and Shooting Stars leaves sour taste in the mouths of the league followers .

 Comments from Nigeria leading WhatsApp platforms, *Sports World Platform and Association  for better league* are as follows:

"My brother, it appears Bayelsa Utd deliberately perpetrated this act to ensure Shooting Stars is beaten . We need to put a stop to this barbaric act otherwise our league will not grow. Imagine someone encroaching or invading a pitch to hit or slap  goalkeeper during a match . It is as if am dreaming."

"where is that man blaming 3sc since and justifying the ugly incidence? learn to be professional. it is not everything u can defend as media officer. some club fans backed by some unscrupulous club officials are kill joys and we all know."

"since the match continued and was concluded,  it might be a little difficult but I agree the punishment was not severe enough to serve as deterrent."

"If these sanctions are genuine, then it does not show justice because the attack on Okemute Odah led to the equalizer and then the winning goal. Definitely, the results of the game should have been canceled as the visitors should have been awarded three points and three goals due to the invasion on the pitch while the home side should have received heavier sanctions. As it is , this is not enough deterrent for any team engage underhand dealings in the future or engage in foul means to get results."

Babalawo (herbalist) inside the Samson Siasia stadium on Sunday during their tie with Shooting Stars

Coming to watch the game?

https://x.com/Iam_agt/status/1802843418038763708?t=sPOoDY9FveB_v68jzG-94g&s=08

"This is a serious threat and psychological siege to players and officials as this show of shame by Bayelsa United and the water poured on the opposing goalkeeper are a good case to take to Court of Abitration for Sports, CAS . How on earth would NPFL slam Bayelsa United a paltry sum of #3M for this shameful act?"

"It's funny we shout punishment up and down like we don't know the Nigerian League.

Only if all judgment across board are always equal when dished out".

"This is not fair. Bayelsa ougth to have lost 3 point and 3 goals."

"The league board should make it point deduction for any encroachment and harassment of match officials, it will go a long way in turning things around"

"The league boards should have a standing rule book, changing goal post for different issues will not augur well .

"A good start should beget a good ending, pronouncement and decision making should be well scrutinized before being released."

"We are used to our match officials getting settled by the so called home teams and something a different report to the league board. Like I said, in one of my post, the match officials are part of our problems, some wílll right  different thing from what happened."

"Definitely it what you people in the secretariat cóllect as the report you will act on."

"If no hanky panky, Bayelsa and Sporting will follow Heartland and Gombe"

It's high time the Secretariat of NPFL look into the construction of this stadium with one entrance and exit viz a viz the required standard of an approved stadium and ban Bayelsa Utd home ground, Samson Siasia stadium.

 Lastly, the reported insecurity , breeding of touts, unofficial persons at players and referee dressing room , and fans encroachment are becoming unbecoming at Samson Siasia stadium and the lives of critical stakeholders are in danger.

It's high time the league management ban this Stadium for football related activities. The construction of the stadium ticks every foul of sporting event. It breeds hooliganism, thuggery and fans encroachment particularly as it falls below standard for a Stadium to have just one entry and exit. This poses dangers to human life.

I so submit 

*Credit: Sunday Agunbiade (Mr VAR*)