Nigeria Professional Football League side Enyimba FC have rubbished reports that their shot stopper Fatau Dauda punched a ball boy during the league game with Katsina United insisting they are lies perpetrated to tarnish the image of the player.
The Nigerian giants added that the reports were just sensationalized to appear differently from what actually happened and that accusing Fatau Dauda of igniting the violence of their fans by punching the ball boy is false and a misrepresentation of facts.
Katsina United reported after the game that the Ghana goalie punched the ball boy who collapsed and was rushed to the hospital.
But the former CAF Champions League winners in a statement have rubbished the reports claiming Katsina United are just being mischievous and cynical with the whole drama.
“Having reviewed the match tape of the incident involving Enyimba goalkeeper Fatau Dauda and a ball boy in the 84th minute of the Match Day 18 of the Nigeria Professional Football League fixture against Katsina United we conclude that Dauda simply sought, in the aftermath of Katsina United’s second goal, to retrieve the ball from the ball boy in order to facilitate a quick restart,” a statement on Enyimba FC’s website read.
“Dauda only knocked the ball out of the grasp of the ball boy, who had clasped the ball to his midriff to prevent access to it.
“Dauda did not punch the ball boy, as alleged by the home side, and contrary to widespread reports.
“He did not assault or beat up the ball boy in question, let alone to the “point of coma” as some sensationalist reports have purported,” they explained.
“This misrepresentation of facts; that the action of goalkeeper Dauda is somehow responsible for the brutality meted out to our players and officials is not only disgraceful, but unacceptable.
“Such violence has no place in our league and we maintain our call for strong sanctions against Katsina United,” the statement concluded.
Katsina United won the game by a 2-1 score line and vented their spleen on the visiting side with some reports revealing the two sides had a previous grudge and Fatau couldn’t have been the cause of the violence.
By: Sheikh Tophic Sienu @desheikh1 on twitter