The travails of Nembe City FC

Although Giwa FC of Jos suffered the same fate with Nembe City at the beginning of the season when the two privately owned clubs were expelled from the league by the LMC for failing to ‘substantially meet with the requirements for registration’, the Jos football outfit has since been readmitted.In fact Giwa had a triumphant […]

Although Giwa FC of Jos suffered the same fate with Nembe City at the beginning of the season when the two privately owned clubs were expelled from the league by the LMC for failing to ‘substantially meet with the requirements for registration’, the Jos football outfit has since been readmitted.
In fact Giwa had a triumphant entry into the league on Wednesday with a well deserved 1-0 victory over visiting Rangers International of Enugu. The defeat is already causing ripples in the camp of the ‘Antelopes’.
It will be recalled that following their appeal to the NFF over their expulsion, the Emergency Committee of the football governing body in the country met and gave four conditions for the clubs to meet in seven days, if they were to be readmitted.
The four conditions include submission of a signed letter of allegiance to the LMC in accordance with the approved format, appoint a stadium to be inspected and approved by the LMC, submission of detailed Medical Profile (passport) of all players in line with the LMC approved Medical forms and discontinuation of all matters and litigations in court.
Though, Nembe City provided a letter granting the club access to use the Krisdera Hotel Stadium for its home games and a letter of allegiance to the LMC signed by Mrs. Ebiakpo Rumson, the Club failed to provide valid Medical Profile (passport) of their players as well as not signing and submitting LMC Form 17 for list of authorized Club signatories.
Before the second hammer fell on Nembe City on Wednesday, Salisu Abubakar who is the Chief Operating Officer of the LMC wrote the club and stated succinctly that “Your Club has substantially failed to comply with the four mandatory conditions required to be fulfilled within seven days of the NFF decision to allow your Club re-admission into the League.
 “Note that failure to comply with any of these requirements by 5pm on Wednesday, April 2nd 2014 will result in your Club being banned from the 2013/14 Nigeria Professional Football League season as provided by the NFF Emergency Committee decision of March 24, 2014 on your appeal”.
The club’s chances of rejoining the topflight this season continue to fade and it is being alleged that the travails of the Nembe City are being master minded by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, and other football stakeholders who are sworn enemies of Chief Rumson Victor Baribote, the proprietor of the embattled club.
It is an open secret that there is no love lost between Baribote and the present board of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, after the former NPL chairman accused the Executive Committee members of masterminding his sack from office.
His conduct thereafter did not go down well with the NFF who slammed a 15 year ban on him to keep him away from all football related activities in the country.
Baribote immediately sought redress in conventional court. He later took his cry for justice to the world football governing body, FIFA and the Court of Arbitration in sports.
Unfortunately for Baribote, FIFA endorsed the decision by NFF to ban him. His steps in search of justice were faulted by the football governing body.
Consequently, when the Emergency Committee of the NFF that heard the appeal brought before it by Giwa FC and Nembe City following their expulsion by the LMC and directed that Nembe City should henceforth disassociate itself with all banned persons, almost everybody understood the implied meaning of that stern order. Tongues immediately wagged that it was meant to further clip the wings of Baribote who is the president of Nembe City FC.
When Baribote Spoke to SHOT! on Thursday on the raging battle for registration, he said the club had on Wednesday’s met all the four conditions that emanated from the Emergency Committee of the NFF.
He said although he is the target of the enemies of Nembe City, he is not involved in the running of the club saying it is the responsibility of his wife Ebiakpo Rumson Baribote, the club chairman and his daughter Miss Blessing Rumson Baribote who is the club secretary.
He said “I know the plan of these people but they are short sighted. Long ago, I envisaged what is happening and my name is not on the list of the management of the club.
“Nembe City yesterday (Wednesday) submitted the full list of the management officials of the club. My name is not there.
“However, I am the president of Nembe City and I sponsor the club with my money. It will amount to gross violation of my fundamental human right if anybody attempts to stop me from supervising how my hard earned money is spent.
“Although Nembe City has met with all the conditions, it is yet to get any letter from the LMC. We understood that they put off Nembe’s match against FC Taraba because the club was yet to meet with all the conditions. Now that everything is with the LMC, Nembe City will proceed to Uyo for this weekend’s match against Akwa United”, he stated.
The man at the centre of the Nembe City saga is already talking about this weekend’s encounter against Akwa United in Uyo but it is not yet uhuru as the LMC appears bent on ensuring that Nembe City plays by the rules.