Some friday lightheartedness!
Former Coventry goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic has been
forced to confirm that he is safe and sound at home in
England, after an internet petition claimed he had
been jailed by the Kazakhstani government.
According to a petition posted on
www.petitiononline.com, Ogrizovic had been travelling
the world on public transport to raise money for a
charity called Over The Bar, but had accidentally
"trespassed onto Kazakhstani private military land"
and was being held on suspicion of being a spy.
"Here is our petition to Tony Blair and the
Kazakhstani government demanding the release of
footballing legend Steve Ogrizovic and protesting his
innocence," began the 'Free Steve Ogrizovic appeal'.
"Please sign this petition and help bring forward the
release of Steve Ogrizovic."
Over 250 Coventry fans flocked to the site to help
their former hero, posting messages of support such as
"Please free Steve as he's a bent-nosed hero to
millions" and "He's obviously innocent and this is no
way for a rubbish goalkeeper to have to spend his
time".
But happily, their sterling efforts were unnecessary,
because Ogrizovic was soon tracked down to Coventry
City's Ryton training ground, where he works as the
club's Academy Director.
"This is a complete hoax," he told the Coventry
Evening Telegraph. "I haven't a clue where it has come
from."
"I haven't made any trips to Kazakhstan of late - nor
am I planning to. I can only assume that with the
well-documented break-throughs in science of late, I
have obviously been cloned."
Not all who signed the petition were supportive of
Ogrizovic, however. "Lock him up for life," wrote
someone claiming to be the keeper's brother. "I've
forever been in the shadows of the big ugly *******.
Cutting off his hands would be ideal because these are
the main cause for his success."
