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Months after the ill-fated gunmen attack on Sunshine Stars FC bus which claimed the life of their assistant kit manager, Taiwo Dosunmu, captain, Sunday Abe, in this interview with ABIODUN ADEWALE open up on the incident
How would you describe the late Taiwo Dosunmu and his role at Sunshine Stars?
Taiwo was a good guy to us and was like a family to all players and staff. He has been at Sunshine Stars for so many years and most players who have left are still fond of him. He was a very relentless and hardworking guy. Aside from his official role as a ball boy, he was very helpful to the players especially during training sessions. As a matter of fact, his character of making sure things get done is why he was being referred to as the assistant kit manager, he was originally employed as a ball boy. He is someone we can’t forget in the team.
Do you remember the year and how he joined the club?
Sincerely I can’t remember the year precisely because if I put a year to it, it might be wrong. I think he joined us not long after we finished playing on the continent. Before he became a staff of the club, he was one of those guys at the stadium who would mingle with the players before and after training just to help us carry our jersey and boot packs. That was how he started before he was integrated.
Do you think he wanted to play football?
No, he wasn’t aspiring to play football. He was just satisfied with being with us. In fact, I remember, not just players, he would even carry bags for the kit manager then and he was available for any errands during training.
How did the unfortunate incident happen?
You know as humans, we pray for guidance as well as protection against evils, and also try to avoid them. For that trip, we were actually supposed to travel to Benin City through Owo, but because of the bad state and the incessant kidnapping along that route, we opted for Benin-Ore Road. I remember I was addressing the players when the incident happened. We just saw a masked person come out with a gun and shot towards the driver. The driver didn’t stop and the person retreated into the bush immediately. It was one person and perhaps he had accomplices who didn’t come out. Taiwo was sitting on the engine beside the driver, and we noticed the bullet hit the door before he was hit from his side and it came out through his back. His intestine was out as a result. After the vehicle stopped, we met some Federal Road Safety Corps who helped us take him to a nearby hospital where he was stitched. We proceeded to Benin and he was immediately admitted to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital for further treatment. Till now, we didn’t see the bullet because it was neither retrieved from his body nor found in the bus.
How stable was he then?
He was responding to treatment very well. We went to see him at the hospital and he spoke to us as well. We also donated blood and he had successful surgeries before we left Benin City. We were waiting for him to be discharged before we suddenly heard about his demise.
Is this the first time Sunshine Stars would be attacked since you started playing for the club?
Yes, it’s the first time our team will be attacked since I started playing for the club. Almost all our trips in the league have been by road and this hasn’t happened to us before. We have also heard about similar cases with other clubs in the league.
The incident has again opened up the dangers of travelling by road in the NPFL, should everyone involved in the league be worried about their safety?
It’s a matter of affordability and insecurity in the country as well. In the first instance, many teams cannot afford to travel by air. In the other instance, Benin City to Akure is a very motorable distance, it’s just sad that the security of the country in general is porous. So, as much as teams must ensure safe travelling, the government must secure the country as well.
Since he has been buried, what are the efforts to bring succour to his family?
Immediately the incident happened, I mean when he was still at the hospital, I spoke to our bosses at Sunshine Stars about my intention to raise some money for him and even with the players union outside Ondo State. But for proximity, we involved mainly the players who are connected to him. And I told all the players at Sunshine that by the time he returns from the hospital, we would have to welcome him and hand him the money before the state government will also do its part. That was the plan we had to show him love and the money that was raised was kept with the secretary of the players union. We believed he would survive and we were waiting for his arrival until we suddenly heard about his demise. So, we just presented the money to the family and we were joined by two other members of the players union in Nigeria.
Aside from giving them money, we met his elder sister and twin brother as well and sought what they intend to do so that we and the state can also support them.
How did you feel about the support from different quarters as well?
The Edo State government did a lot for us during that period and they took care of the hospital bills. Aside from that, they gave us money too and escorted us back home with security. Our state government also reacted quickly. We appreciate all the support from the NFF, the media and other teams in the NPFL as well. We didn’t feel alone throughout the period because the entire country stood by us.
Dosunmu and former Governor, Akeredolu died in the same period, how did the club and the players respond on the field?
Honestly, before we lost former Governor Akeredolu that Wednesday morning, which was just a few hours to our game against Doma in Akure, we had made up our minds to win the game for Taiwo. We had prepared every tribute before the news of the former governor also came in. So, that gave us one more reason to win and we won 2-0. Aside from that too, we needed the win as a team in order to keep the hopes of reaching our target alive. It was about determination, not just about training because we didn’t even train much after Taiwo died. It was really a tough time for all of us and even for me personally because I had lost a sibling some days before Taiwo passed on. None of the players knew because it could affect them as well. But after the game, I told them as well.
How is the team working to stay up this season?
Last season, we finished in the top three during the abridged league and we placed fourth during the Super 6. This season we can still do the same thing. It’s been a tough couple of weeks for us but we keep reminding ourselves after every training session about the target which was set from the start of the season and that is to finish in the top three. It is still possible because we are just seven points away from the target. That means with two consecutive wins, followed by some consistency, we will be back where we want to be.
