NSF: Kaduna, Kebbi Fight Disrupts Dambe Bout

A fight that ensued between team Kaduna and team Kebbi supporters yesterday disrupted the Dambe bout (traditional boxing) at the ongoing 17th National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt.

Both teams were on draw on the 75kg bout which forced the officials to announce technical knockout.

After several attempts by both teams, Kebbi was announced winner by the officials. This sparked off the fight which almost resulted to a stampede at the Civic Centre, Port Harcourt.

The official who announced the result was attacked and wounded by Kaduna supporters.

Police officers at the centre could not immediately stop the fight as it resulted to free for all for about five minutes.

A Dambe lover, Mohammed Garba told reporters that it was the official who caused the whole scene as he announced the wrong result.

“I do not think the officials understand the rules of the sport, Kaduna had more points and they gave it to Kebbi, so it served them right,” he said.

A sportsman, Sylvanus Emmanuel said that the sport should henceforth be banned from the ongoing sports festival and subsequent ones because of brutality.

“This sport alone has been causing series of problems since the commencement of the festival, I think it should be banned from the festival,” he said.

Efforts to speak with traditional sports officials and the police proved abortive as none of them was willing to speak with the press.

It would be recalled that there was fighting on Monday when Rivers coach protested the decision of the referee after a bout between his state and Kano.