By Amaechi Agbo

The Nationwide League One, NLO management Monday slammed a two-ban on the coach of Cofine Football Club, Remmy Amadi as well as imposing half a million naira on the Rivers State-based club for match-fixing.

The match-fixing involved Cofine FC and Bussdor FC at their match centre in Calabar in the ongoing 2020/2021 NLO season. The league organisers also cancelled all matches played by Cofine FC on the ground that they were manipulated.

In making its pronouncement Monday, NLO noted that the secretariat received the report and decision of the panel set up by Nationwide League One at the Calabar Centre of the ongoing 2021 NLO season.

“Consequently, the NLO Secretariat sees the allegations of match fixing against Coach Remmy Amadi of Cofine FC as a very grievous offence and can bring the game to disrepute,

“Sequel to above, the NLO hereby wish to apply the rules as stated below;
● A Fine of 500, 000.00 is hereby imposed on the COFINE FC Rivers State
● All the results of the matches played by COFINE FC during this ongoing 2021 NLO season are hereby cancelled, it is assumed that all previous matches played were through match fixing.
● Coach Remmy Amadi the masterminder of the act is hereby banned for a period of two (2) years.”

The NLO concluded that “This is an interim decision and shall be forwarded to the NFF integrity/match fixing Unit for further sanctions as the unit deemed fit.

“As earlier stated the Nationwide League One will not tolerate any act of misconduct before, during and after every game.”
However, a transcript of the conversation between an unnamed officials of the Cofine FC and Bussdor FC leading to the fixing of the match which Cofine won by 2-1 and was characterised by awful and unprofessional officiating by the referee
Here is the transcription of the discussions that nailed Cofine FC in the crime

Cofine FC: Hello, Bussdor how are
you?

Bussdor: Everything is fine.
Cofine FC: I’ve been calling you since but no response, so I had to go back to my hotel room.

Bussdor: Okay , no problem, hope everything is fine?
Cofine FC: It’s fine. Tomorrow’s match, how do we do it, is your team still coming?
Bussdor : We’ll come.

Cofine: How do we do it, is there a way we can strike a deal so that we (Cofine) can get ourselves. What do you think?
Bussdor: What kind of deal do you want us to strike?
Cofine: It’s Cofine , you people don’t have anything to compete for again.
Bussdor: Yes

Cofine: So that’s what I’m saying

Bussdor: There’s nothing to say – we’ll play the match and if we play it, who ever wins should progress
Cofine : Is that how you want it?

Bussdor : Because I am not a coach that will demand money from anyone. I don’t do that. Since I’ve been playing football, I don’t do that.

Cofine: I know very well. Don’t you know me? I am Remmy Amadi, we all played football together. We can work it out, we are all coaches, we can help each other. So how do we do it. Is there a way we can find something for you to influence the match. It’s a norm.

Bussdor : (Chuckles) There is nothing you can give me. What we can do is just to let the boys play. God has known who will win – even if you (Cofine) were awarded a penalty you may not score – that’s football for you. So if I should agree to collect something from you (Cofine) , my conscience will kill me, I don’t do like that. But come out and play tomorrow, if God says you (Cofine) will win , no one will stop it. Come out and play – anyhow it goes, we’ll thank God for it. After all, we’ve (Bussdor) lost four matches and didn’t kill ourselves.

Cofine: Okay no problem, we’ll come out tomorrow (match played already)