The sole administrator of the Rivers State Muslims Pilgrims Board, Alhaji Sani Okiri has pinned the poor turn out of spectators in Port Harcourt during league matches to poor mobilisation on the part of the clubs and fear of hoodlums who used to harass fans at stadium.
Sani made this known in an exclusive chat with Tidesports Port Harcourt recently.
According to the Okirika born administrator,” it is funny that when one goes to the stadium to watch football matches, the person would be suddenly attacked by hoodlums, who will not only embarrass but also cart away valuables such as handsets, money among others.
He explained that the issue of militancy has also reduced the passion attached to the affairs of fans’ home clubsides like Dolphin and Sharks.
Sani, who went back to memory lane, remembered when football lovers use to crowd the stadium to watch division one matches involving Sharks and Calabar Rovers or Leventis United and will even be in the pitch two hours before the arrival of the playing teams.
He continued that back then match venue would always be filled to the highest capacity which attracts militancy personnel who chase people around. And yet more crowd outside should still be struggling to enter the match venues.
The youthful administrator further maintained that, lack of stars in the Globacom Premier League is also a fundamental factor for the low turnout in match venues.
In his words: “There are no stars to watch in the current Premier Leagues. Those playing at the moment do not have the artistry of the game, as it use to be in the bygone times.”
The Bolton Wanderers die hard fan, however, maintained that, things can take a dramatic change, if government can improve on security at the match venue and also encourage the retired professionals, such as Finidi George, Taribo West, Iyeonemi Furo among others to come back home and play one or two seasons, before finally hanging their boots.