Sharks Stadium’s Press Gallery, Now A Death Trap

The Press gallery at the
Sharks Football Club of Port Harcourt Stadium has become a death trap for the users, especially journalists that cover matches.
The Tide newspapers observed that the gallery’s structure is battered, weak and breaking up at different points.
The stair case has fallen off and the entire gallery hosting sports journalists is no longer stable.
The Press stand is in danger of collapsing at a little pressure and consequently, the Secretary of Sportswriters Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Rivers State branch Olakekan Ige has appealed to the State Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Fred Igwe, through the management of Sharks FC to urgently renovate the gallery before it causes damages.
According to him, the gallery as it is can no longer accommodate journalists because of its deplorable condition.
“Honestly I must say that the state of the press gallery is appalling the Sharks management should do something urgently, before it would be late.
“My brother the place is really bad and needs total reconstruction because everywhere in building is shaking now”, Ige said.
Former Chairman of Sharks Supporters Club, Minaiyo Igani also appealed to Sharks’ management to immediately rebuild the press gallery, saying that the renovation of the building was long overdue.
He noted that if urgent steps were not taken, it may lead to disaster.
“Personally, I am not comfortable with the poor state of the gallery, Sharks and government should do something to avert its collapse”.
However, the Media Officer of Sharks FC, Peter Abaje has said that the management was making efforts to ensure that the gallery is renovated on or before the end of the season.
“It is unfortunate that our press stand is bad and life threatening, but the management has concluded plans to put it in a better shape before next season starts”, Abaje said.

Tonye Orabere