Lagos- The Media Officer of Jos-based Giwa FC, Sammy Adesoji, on Wednesday said the decision of League Management Company (LMC) to restore the club to the competition was victory for its supporters.
Adesoji made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
The LMC on Wednesday issued a statement on the return of Giwa to the Nigeria Professional league (NPFL) following an Aug. 12 court ruling via its official twitter handle.
Giwa FC before then, was been banished to Ilorin following a crowd trouble at its home ground, Rwang Pam Stadium Jos, in their Match Day 17 encounter against Rangers International of Enugu.
Giwa FC had gone to court seeking redress on its expulsion from NPFL by the LMC on April 19 after it purportedly stayed away from a third game in Ilorin.
But the LMC had cited breaking of its rule by Giwa FC after it was walked over by Enyimba FC, Wikki Tourists and Akwa United in Ilorin Stadium.
The LMC had argued that Giwa breached its Rule 13:28.
The rule states that “if a club fails to honour three matches cumulatively within the league season without acceptable reason to LMC, such a club shall be expelled from the league and its matches, played and not played shall be cancelled’’.
Reprieve, however, came to the troubled Jos Elephants on Aug. 12, when Justice I.I. Kunda of the Federal High Court, Jos, granted their petition for reinstatement.
The ruling also granted the club the opportunity to have all its
missed league matches due to the expulsion rescheduled by the LMC.
However, in obedience to the court ruling, LMC announced the return of Giwa to the league.
An ecstatic Media Officer, Adesoji in his reaction to the LMC’s decision to obey the order, said it was a victory for all.
“I am so happy with the news; we have missed the league; the players, the management, the hoteliers and the fans.
“We should know that not all the players left Giwa FC during the crises.
“Some of them still waited behind, training in the camp. Such news will bring back joy to them.
“The hoteliers will also be happy with the development because of receiving guest they have during the games. The away teams lodge in these hotels.
“Football is returning to Jos and people will be happy about that. We will do our best to satisfy the conditions,’’ he said.