Dolphins ridicule Atongo Stadium
by Sammy Wejinya 28 June 2012, 11:53
Nigeria champions, Dolphins have identified the ‘poor state of the pitch’ at the Emmanuel Atongo Stadium in Katsina-Ala as the main reason they lost to Plateau United in the Round of 60 stage of the 2012 Federation Cup.
Dolphins lost 0-1 to the second tier club on Tuesday after Nyep Bulus struck for the Jos club in the 53rd minute to extinguish the Port Harcourt side's hope of a double this season.
The three-time Nigerian champions have now voiced their discontent over the venue of the game against Plateau United claiming it inhibited their style of football.
“That pitch (in Katsina-Ala) should not even host street football. I am shocked the stadium was approved to host a game of such magnitude,” team manager of Dolphins, Dumbo Awanem told SuperSport.com.
The club chief further claimed that the ‘bumpy nature of the pitch’ prevented the Dolphins players from expressing themselves in the defeat to the Jos-based club.
“Anyone that has watched Dolphins will know that we love to put the ball on the ground and play a quick passing game. At such a pitch, it was impossible for us to do that.
“We are not complaining just because we lost but under ideal conditions, we would have won easily,” he concluded.
The Emmanuel Atongo Stadium, Katsina-Ala has meanwhile been given the green light to host the Round of 32 game between another Jos-based club, JUTH and the current NPL leaders, Enugu Rangers on June 29.
