2 months ago
17 ARTICLE AD
Players of Nigeria Premier Football League side, El-Kanemi Warriors, are lamenting over the devastating flood in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, which has left about 30 dead and hundreds of thousands of people displaced, The PUNCH reports.
A few of their players who stay within the affected areas in Maiduguri are also victims of the incident, just as the club’s activities have taken a hit as they have not been able to train, causing their NPFL match-day two encounters against Kwara United to be postponed indefinitely.
Goalkeeper George Abine told The PINCH that although the club’s base around Lagos Street, NUJ Press Centre, isn’t affected, the team cannot converge on the Maiduguri stadium for training due to the flood.
“It’s really bad because we cannot train as a group. There is no means of transportation for us to go to the stadium and for those in town to join us,” the goalkeeper said.
“I’m aware that two of our players living in town were affected as well.
“For the few of us at the club’s camp, we can only train with the five-aside pitch we have while we cannot go to the stadium for the team training.”
Abine also lamented the devastating effect of the flood on their fans.
“Overall, our fans are badly affected. So even if we have the resources to train, what football are we going to play when the entire Maiduguri is flooded and people can’t come out to watch us?”
Another player, Sulaimon Alabi, also said, “The last affected area before our place is just like five minutes away. It’s very bad for our fans and officials. It’s a sad phase that will take time for people to recover.”
The President Federation Cup champions began their season with a goalless draw against reigning NPFL champions Enugu Rangers in the season’s opener two weeks ago.
They will hope to make it for their match-day three encounter against Nasarawa United in Lafia next week.
The PUNCH reported that at least 414,000 people have been displaced and another 30 killed by the devastating flood that occurred on Tuesday.
The National Emergency Management Agency said the flood began after the Alau Dam overflowed following heavy rains, leading to the town’s worst flooding in 30 years, according to the United Nations Human Rights Refugee Council and Maiduguri Metropolitan Council residents.
