THE* *REAL* " *BALL* *BOYS* " *OF* *CRIMINAL* *OFFICIATING* *IN* *NIGERIA* ! *MATCHFIXING?!

*SLIDING* *TACKLES

 *PART* *ONE*

CRIMINAL OFFICIATING otherwise also called "BAD OFFICIATING" by most Football Nigerians. Has always been the Major Sore Point and Anchor of our Football Undevelopment over the long years. Yes, Criminal Officiating recklessly and shamelessly dished out by our Football Umpires also called Referees. Is indeed the most deadly Scourge sponsoring the stunted growth of our hugely endowed Football lndustry. Because the Evil Of Criminal Officiating makes a Huge Mockery of our Football League Matches in the eyes of the lnternational Football Community. And most devastatingly, drives away the Main Financial Backbones of our Football Sector. The Corporate Bodies Patrons and the Football Supporters from playing their prominent roles in the Development of our Football lndustry.

The Criminal Officiating Scandal in our Football has held sway for too long in the system. That we must start shouting about the Evil. Which has caused and have continued to cause maximum Damage to our Football, rocking our Beautiful Game to its Foundations. Because of the Depth of the havoc wrecked on our Football by this man - made tsunami. SLIDING TACKLES will discuss the Evil in 2 Seperate PARTS (PART ONE and PART TWO). So that All the Agents of this ignoble and condemnable practice. Whose Final Destination is " Match fixing" will be exposed and unmasked. Leaving them no hiding place. In this Article on Criminal Officiating in our Football League Matches. We shall call the Sponsors and Peddlers of the Evil: - "Ball Boys". Because the Agents are indeed the "Ball Boys" throwing in the Balls for Criminal Officiating and it's Goal target (Matchfixing) to thrive in our Football system.

Infact, anytime l venture into remembering the great Damage done to our Football for donkey years by the Evil Of Criminal Officiating. My inner emotions run very very high. Because anytime l think of Criminal Officiating by our Football Referees. My mind immediately goes back to my time as the Executive Secretary of then Premier League Club, Gabros lnternational FC of Nnewi between 1997 and 2009. Also when I remember of the Evil Of Criminal Officiating. My memory automatically rewinds to my days as Team Manager of NNL Club, Bimo Sporting Club of Abuja between 2017 - 2019. Those Projects were 2 of my Major Football life saving Football Projects that took off very brilliantly and successfully. But ended up abruptly because of Criminal Officiating of some unpatriotic Football Referees. Who would not allow me and my Team any Breathing Space to play and enjoy our Football.

And Nigeria Football was the Biggest Loser of the sudden Death of Gabros lnternational FC and Bimo Sporting Club who were Private owned Clubs that adopted my Policy of developing and exposing young Grassroots Talented Players in the Professional Football Leagues. And the Nation's Football lndustry benefitted immensely from the young gifted Players developed and exposed by my 2 Pet Clubs. Gabros FC for instance, threw up so many young talented Players for both the U20 National Team (the Flying Eagles) and the Senior National Team (the Super Eagles). The contributions of Gabros FC was sincerely appreciated by the Nigerian Football Community. Who dubbed the Club - "The Talent Breeding Ground Of Nigeria Football". Yes, the fond nickname given to Gabros lnternational FC was indeed the perfect definition of the exploits of the Club. Because, National Team Players like Taiye Taiwo, Goalkeepers, Austin Ejude and Daniel Akpeyi, Obinna Nwanneri, Solomon Okoronkwo, Chibuzor Okonkwo, Joetex Frimpong, Dandy Okougo, Uche Ugochukwu, Emeka Raphael, Samson Godwin and Mike Asaba Odibe. Were All Gabros FC Rookie Products.

Infact it's stored in the Football History Records Book. That the All Conquering, Gov. Orji Uzor Kalu motivated Enyimba side that won the CAF Champions League Trophy Back to Back in 2003 and 2004. Had 6 former Gabros FC proteges in the Line up (Obinna Nwanneri, David Tyavkase, Joetex Frimpong, Damian Udeh, Uche Ugochukwu and Chinedu Eziomorah in the Line up. Also in the same 2004 CAF Champions League Finals at Abuja between Enyimba FC and Etoile Du Sahel FC which Enyimba won by Penalty Shoot out. Former Gabros FC boy, Goalkeeper, Austin Ejude was in the Goalpost for visiting Etoile Du Sahel of Tunisia. Then at Bimo SC Abuja where I continued my Policy of deploying unheralded young Players. Bimo SC even though was short lived for just 2 seasons because the Club's Swiss Sponsor, Bruno Yamouridis threw in the towel because of Criminal Officiating against the Club whenever he came to Nigeria to watch our League Matches. But despite the short sojourn of Bimo SC in the NNL. The young Club was still able to produce the lst Choice Goalkeeper of the Coach Ladan Bosso tutored U20 Flying Eagles squad to the last FIFA U20 World Cup Championship, Goalkeeper Chijioke Anagboso. Bimo SC Players are scattered all over the entire Nigerian Football League space like Goalkeeper Johnson Mmecha, the current Goaltender of Premier League Club, Abia Warriors FC.

With my horrible experiences in the hands of Criminal Officiating in our Football League system via Gabros FC and Bimo SC in the 2 Top Major Leagues of the country. Especially from the fact that the periods l managed Gabros FC and Bimo SC. Were the Height of the Dark days of Horrible Criminal Officiating in the Nigeria League. Where the Rogue League Referees effusively unleashed unbelievable Bad Officiating with great audacity and nauseating impunity. Infact in those my lamentable years in Gabros and Bimo. The Criminal Officiating was just out of this World. And the Evil was fuelled by the then NFF Officials, Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), NFF Referees Appointment Committee and the Desperate Title chasing and Relegation battling League Clubs. And of course the Club's Supporters who needed their Darling Clubs to Win their Home Matches at all costs using Criminal Officiating. In those ugly heydays of serious highly despicable Criminal Officiating. It was an unhidden "Cash And Carry Affair" where the Highest Bidder Club won the Match and the League Points in tow. In those unforgettable days of Criminal Officiating, the Football and League Handlers determined the Position of the Clubs on the Final League Table. Even before the League season, commenced. And a lot of undeserving Fine Teams especially the Private owned Clubs who had no Free Money to throw into the Criminal Officiating Racquet. Were the most persecuted and brutalized by the Criminal Officiating of those heavy dark days.

So, when I discuss Criminal Officiating which is an Evil solely intended to Rig and Fix Matches to the favour of a particular Team. I base my Discussion from the Point of a "Direct Participant Witness" not a "Hearsay Witness". I was there Live in Gabros FC and Bimo SC and personally witnessed the Evil Of Criminal Officiating operating at very close quarters. I am also a Living Direct Witness to the devastating Destruction wrecked on our Football by Criminal Officiating. I am again a Living Surviving Witness to the various nefarious Methods deployed by the identified "Ball Boys" of Criminal Officiating. Criminal Officiating, a direct tool of Matchfixing which is a serious Crime in Football is Evil. And unless the Evil is eradicated from our Football system. Our Football can never move an inch forward. 

And it's for this singular patriotic reason to stop both the Present and Future occurrence of Criminal Officiating. That l will in PART TWO of this Article. Expose and Unmask the True Agents Of The Evil Of Criminal Officiating in our Football League system.

 *Barrister* lyke *lgbokwe* ( *Torchlight* *Of* *Nigeria* *Football* 

 *WhatsApp* : *09136715922*