Six teams see red in Okonkwo tourney

The Local Organising Committee of the on-going Season 15 of the annual Bishop Mike Okonkwo Football competition has defended its decision to disqualify six teams in the Round of 32 matches, saying it took the action to discourage cheating and keep to the rules of fair play which the championship is noted for.

Chairman of the committee Deacon Malachy Ndubuzor, told Extra Time that the teams were discovered to have fielded ineligible players which prompted the committee to apply the rules, warning that any team that flouts the rule at any stage of the tournament will face similar punishment.

“When we started the competition, we had rules that were drawn according to FIFA regulations stating that any team found cheating at any stage of the championship would be disqualified and all the teams signed that agreement.

“But we discovered that some of the teams brought in unregistered players which were against the rules of the game. All the teams were given the opportunity to make tree changes but they still went ahead to bring in players from the back door,” he lamented.

Ndubuzor noted that the LOC is out to ensure equal playing ground for all teams and maintain the integrity the tournament is noted for since inception.

“We don’t want to encourage indiscipline and cheating because the sponsor, Bishop Mike Okonkwo is a man of integrity and we want to present teams that are indeed qualified to play the finals,” he stated.

It would be recalled that Synergy Ultimate All Stars, Great Commission FC, Great Innovation FC and three others were sent packing from the championship for tampering with their players’ licenses.

ANDREW EKEJIUBA