By KATE OBODO
Former Bayelsa chairman  Felix Beke has described the sanction imposed on Heartland by the Nigeria Premier League, NPL as a well deserved  punishment after crowd trouble at a recent game against Enyimba in Enugu, but added that the club deserve more than the punishment given to them.

According to Beke, “ It is a well deserve one as it will serve as an  example to other clubs who can not handle nor educate their fanzs. In essence, I’m in  support of the  NPL’s   sanction on  Heartland, if a club  like Heartland could  not educate and handle it fans very well then, they have to pay the price,” he said.

“Banishing them to Calabar is not the issue, they should been made play in their home ground  and play their matches behind close doors after which they  pay heavily. If I may asked, what is 1.6 million naira as fine, ? For me it is a small money.

“Reason is that, with such money the club will not see it as a  punishment, therefore such occurrence may repeat itself again. In a situation like that the NPL  should have fined heavily. This I think would serve as an example to  other clubs. There is the need for clubs to always educate their fans on every game,” he said.

He continued thus: “In Europe, a player or players are fined heavily for  misconducts, at least over 20 million or so , how much more a renowned club like Heartland,” Beke stressed.  On the way forward Beke advised that the NPL should focus more on active and efficient securities on league matches and also place a strict measure on the issue of hooliganism.

“A high measure must be taken to guide against violence in our league, and any club whose fans is find wanting, causing problem should be made to  pay up to 5 to 10 million.  NPL should also focus on efficient security on our league matches,” he said.

Meanwhile, Heartland has protested the sanction as they described it as undeserving and unjustifiable sanction imposed on them.

NPL harsh on  Heartland  — Awaja

Former  coach  of     the    defunct Bukola Babes now ABS, Patrick Awaja has condemned the punishment meted out to Heartland Football Club of Owerri by the Nigeria Premier League, NPL, describing it as ‘harsh’.

Awaja said the NPL went too far, having fined the club N1.6 million and then banishing  the team to Calabar to play their home matches as he however, urged the NPL to reconsider their initial stand on the team.

He said: “Frankly speaking, I don’t support the sanction imposed on them by NPL. With the look of things, it appears it was a planned work against Heartland. Initially, the match was supposed to be played at the Gabros Stadium but Enyimba protested that they will not play there and the match was moved to Enugu.  This is exactly what happened between  Kwara United and Sunshine Stars of Akure.

The information I gathered was that it was a set-up from Akure to beat up Kwara. These are the handiwork of supporters.  For me the punishment was too harsh. It was too harsh and undeserving, having banished the team (Heartland) and  fined them N1.6 million.

The NPL  should be considerate and  reduce the fine coupled with the fact that they would not play on their home ground. He said that ,“the NPL should also look inward because there are some people whose aim is to destroy a team or cause trouble.

Also the issue of security should be properly address, if we must tackle hooliganism. They should also get reliable accessors who will give concrete and accurate information on situations at each match venue,” Awaja said.