The Nigeria National League Group B1 encounter between Shooting Stars Soccer Club fondly known as 3SC and Bendel Insurance in Benin has been postponed indefinitely by the management of the league after 3SC players were struck down by stomach ache ahead of the match.
3SC team manager, Dimeji Lawal, who confirmed this to journalists, said the players had been receiving treatment in a hospital in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
He said that 22 players were affected by the stomach ache suspected to have been caused by food poisoning after their dinner on Tuesday night.
Shooting Stars and Insurance are fighting for their group’s first position and perhaps automatic promotion to the Premier League if the play-off is dropped as qualification route. While it is 3SC’s last game of the season, Insurance still have a game to play. Shooting Stars lead with 28 points while Insurance have 26.
According to Lawal, 3SC was preparing for the match when the players began to complain of stomach discomfort after their meals.
Lawal said, “After tests by our medical team, it was confirmed that they had contacted food poisoning. We alerted the NNL and we were told that the match had been postponed indefinitely. Medical reports from our doctor will be considered before a new date will be announced.
“We have a bright hope of clinching qualification to the Premier League. We are leading the group with two points ahead of Insurance. Normally, we have both qualified for the play-off but you may not know. The play-off may be cancelled. That is why we must take the match seriously.”
