Bitrus Bewarang, the General Manager of Plateau United football club of Jos, has said that he has forgiven groups and individuals that almost frustrated his club’s promotion to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Bewarang, who is also the President, Nigeria Football Coaches Association (NFCA), said this on Sunday in Abuja, in an interview with newsmen.
The NFF Disciplinary Committee had promoted Adamawa United to the NPFL ahead of Plateau United following controversies surrounding the last league matches of the season.
The committee had on Oct. 16 decided that Plateau would lose their points because of the delayed kick-off of their final match with Spotlight FC of Katsina.
Plateau United, however, appealed the decision and was subsequently promoted instead of Adamawa United, which the Disciplinary Committee preferred.
According to Bewarang, the groups and individuals have been forgiven after the Appeals Committee of the NFF waded into the case and gave them justice.
He noted that with Christopher Green as the Chairman of Disciplinary Committee and Emmanuel Zira, as the Chairman of Adamawa United, the forgiveness became necessary for the development of football.
“I want to say that some of my colleagues in the NNL didn’t act maturely because we have at one time or the other collectively fought some of the unholy things that happen in the league.
“But now, they became the monsters that almost stopped us from playing in the NPFL, but thank God, it is history now.
“That period was a very bad one because there are some people I trusted to deliver justice but they fell short of my expectation.
“But as a Christian, I have forgiven Emmanuel Zira, my friend. The truth is that there is no bad feeling because I have gotten what I was fighting for,” he said.
Bewarang said that his club had been denied promotion to the NPFL on several occasion in the past but noted that this season was destined for them to achieve their dream.
“Before now, I had always gotten close to gaining promotion, then, there will be a gang up; it is said that once beaten, twice shy.
“I didn’t do anything different other than maintaining my principles; I discovered that the referees are difficult and I decided to empower my players and coaches.
“I paid them well so that they can win matches for me, so the pressure now fell on them because I have been able to pay them well and they have the obligation to win matches,” he added.
Bewarang, who was an assistant Super Eagles coach said that the team had all it takes to play in the elite league having beaten three NPFL clubs in the FA Cup competition.
He said that the defeat of Giwa FC in the state elimination battle and the defeat of former league champions Kano Pillars in the second round of the competition were indications of the team’s strength.
He noted that the ouster of Shooting Stars FC, Ibadan, in the knockout stage of the FA Cup by Plateau United was an indication of what the team could do in the forthcoming NPFL season.
“So, you will agree with me that we are not going to a strange terrain; it’s a familiar terrain and we have enough arsenals to do well in the league having earned our promotion.
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