Dolphins FC blame referee for loss to Sunshine Stars

Nigeria Premier League side, Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt, are unhappy with their loss to Sunshine Stars in Akure on Sunday.

Dolphins have blamed the referee who officiated the game for their defeat.

The team’s head coach, Stanley Eguma, complained bitterly about the “controversial” goal scored in added time by Sunshine Stars’ Prince Aggrey, which was allowed to stand by the referee, giving the hosts the crucial 2-1 victory.

“The referee made us lose this game,” Mr. Eguma said in a press statement signed by the team’s media officer, China Acheru. “The whole world has seen it. Even on live television this happened. We have to do something about this because it is not the best.”

Chiwendu Ali put Dolphins FC ahead after 37 minutes. Ayo Saka turned round his marker in midfield and passed to Victor Alegbe who in turn freed Ifeanyi Egwim on the left. Egwim’s cross was struck in ferociously by Chiwendu in only his second game for Dolphins after joining from National Division One side, Go Round FC.

Two minutes later, the referee, John Charles, called a penalty for Sunshine after a Dolphins defender was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box, but Tunji Adeniyi shot the kick wide.

At half time, Sunshine Stars coach, Kennedy Akinboboye, brought in Dele Olorundare and he made his impact felt two minutes later.

Joseph Douhadji failed to head clear a cross into the Dolphins area. Olorundare latched on the loose ball and found Adeniyi who controlled it well before slotting it home behind Sunday Rotimi in goal for Dolphins.

With the game in added time, Rotimi failed to take care of a cross into his area and Aggrey scored though it seemed he handled the ball, a foul both the referee and his assistant missed.

Dolphins’ players protested the goal for two minutes before restarting the game.

Coach Akinboboye of Sunshine Stars described it as a very difficult game. He said the Dolphins players got complacent, thinking they had escaped with a draw before he punished them with game changing substitutions

“It was difficult playing against a very experienced side,” he said. “I never gave up. I brought in some people to push the attack and when I noticed Dolphins were relaxed thinking they had gotten a draw, we pushed up.”