Sharks’ Coach Rubbishes Conspiracy Against TA

Following allegation that the recent Sharks FC of Port
Harcourt’s loss to Wikki Tourists was a gang-up to mount pressure and sack the
Technical Adviser of the club, John Obuh who just returned to the side from
the  Flying Eagles, the chief coach of
the club, Imama Amapakabo, has poured cold water on the claims.

Visiting Wikki Tourists of Bauchi in the week 37 fixture of
the Nigeria Premier League beat Sharks 3-2 in a match the visitor needed at
least a draw to escape relegation.

The result triggered disappointment and wild allegations
among Sharks fans and supporters. The fans who spoke to Tidesports claimed that
the home loss was a conspiracy by some officials of the club to put pressure on
the club sponsors to sack Obuh, while some claimed that the game was handed out
to the opponents because of backlog of entitlements owed the players. But in an
interview with Coach Amapakabo, he described the allegations as news to him.

According to him, there were a lot of factors that
contributed to Sharks failure to progress in the Federation Cup and the contest
to win the Premier League. He denied knowledge or involvement in any gang-up.

“My brother, it is not my fault, the management of the club
refused to talk to the players when they were agitating for their unpaid
allowances.

I had worked with the best coaches in Nigeria, none can
speak bad against me”, Amapakabo said.

He also stated that the postponement of matches affected the
players because until six games to go, Sharks was still in contention to win
the league and the Federation Cup.

“I will also say that
postponement of games contributed, and as the season began coming to an
end, the players realised that they were still being owed substantially and the
fear of the unknown put them under pressure. This affected their
concentration”, the coach said.

He further stated that the players were not in unity as they
quarrel among themselves from time to time.

Tonye Orabere