By Jonathan Ugbal
Players of the Manchester United football club of England in its Match day 35 English Premier League game of the 2016/2017 season with Swansea City football club wore black armbands in honor of the victims of the Calabar viewing centre tragedy.
This comes on the heels of Nigeria and Arsenal football legend, Kanu Nwankwo interest in organizing an All-Star football match to raise money for the victims of the unfortunate incident which claimed the lives of 8 last week Thursday at Nyaghasang community in Calabar Municipal council area.
The players lined out in their traditional red jerseys on the Sunday match which ended in a draw following Swansea’s Gyfil Sigurdson cancelling of United’s Wayne Rooney’s opener which made him the first player to reach 20 premier league goals from the penalty spot for the club.
The club had announced two days ago that its players will wear black armbands in honor of those who died in the incident while watching a UEFA Europa league game between Manchester United and Anderlecht football club.
Black armbands to remember the #MUFC fans who lost their lives recently in Calabar, Nigeria. pic.twitter.com/uGkOCESrLz
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 30, 2017
Meanwhile, a former presidential adviser on National Assembly matters, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa disclosed the intentions of Kanu after concluding a vigil held honor of the victims.
She had earlier announced plans to build a world class viewing center and said the likes of centurion and former Super Eagles skipper, Joseph Yobo will feature in the match which will raise money for the victims and the development of the community.
“I have spoken to Joseph Yobo, and he is ready to also collaborate with Kanu so that they can bring their colleagues,” Ita-Giwa said after a procession of residents and concerned citizens wearing black shirts in honor of those who died, adding that: “Such a profound incident to happen to a community like this is not something we should be quiet and just let pass.”
She continued: “In civilized communities, when people die for such a cause, you come out to remember that day. You come out to commiserate with the people. You come out to create activities that would commemorate that day that this thing happened.
“We thought that for innocent people to come and die like that for something they were passionate about, which is football, we should come out and remember that day that it happened and we are overwhelmed by the turnout today. We have to start showing love to each other. We have to show compassion for each other.”
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