Tirana, Albania – E be like say dem don gather o, as over 2,000 police personnel dey ready to secure Arena Kombetare for the big match wey go happen on Saturday night between Albania and Serbia. Dem no wan make wetin happen 11 years ago repeat itself again. Na wetin dem dey call drama, my guy!
Omo, you see ehn, outside small cafe wey near the stadium, two guys dey stand for chair wey dem don fasten some things to the awning. Lunchtime don pass as Tirana dey prepare for the match wey fit fill the stadium at least 10 times. No be small wahala na! No be say blood plenty for ground, but everybody sabi say if dem no careful, wahala fit burst.
Albania flag dey shine everywhere, with the double-headed black eagle dey fly high. But on top that, dem don change another flag wey dey carry “Autochtonous” for am—this one fit cause problem if dem no careful. Just last time wey dem play, drone bring serious gbege as e drop controversial image for Partizan Stadium during European Championship qualifier in 2014. E cause high tension wey even affect the sport as a whole.
Dis time around, authorities wan do everything to amaka sha. Dem don deploy special forces and counter-terrorism operatives, plus as much as 500 plainclothes officers go mingle with the 22,500 crowd wey go dey there. Na so the game go set! Away fans no go dey this time, as dem want cool the matter down.
Plus, dem don install anti-drone equipment for around the area. Potential disruptors wey wan use drone to scatter the game don already collect warning say their gadgets go turn to roasted chicken if dem show face. Nobody wan collect gbege anymore, after wetin happen before. If dem fit prevent disorder, maybe we go finally rest this football drama wey don dey follow them.
No be only drone wahala dey, o! Ismail Morina, wey get beard and no be so important, don come back small small. He na the guy wey hold responsibility for the last gbege for 2014, and him don turn national hero. But as e dey show face again, everybody dey wonder wetin go happen this time. His state of mind and whereabout sabi dey point all fingers!
The Albanian FA don organize things well, but the Tifozat Kuq e Zi group wey normally dey bring life to matches no too happy with the arrangement. They dey vex say dem no sell tickets to supporters like before. Instead, na by draw dem dey allocate tickets now, as e no dey easy to enter the stadium. Na wetin dem dey call organized farce, wey dem label as “rich man’s game”!
As tempers dey rise and ticket price dey shoot past £1,000 for black market, everybody dey fear wetin fit happen this Saturday. But as dem dey prepare for their second match later for November, one thing dey clear: if this match waka fine, e fit bring better light to the future as UEFA Under-21 Championship dey on ground for 2027.
So, make we grab our palm wine and dey watch how this football drama go play out! Hope say dem no go seek trouble again, because e don too much. Make we enjoy the match and no byfire byforce o!
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor@nnn.ng
