Gosport Borough condemn ‘despicable delinquents’ who broke Billie Busari’s jaw in unprovoked broad daylight attack near Gunwharf Quays

Gosport Borough Football Club have condemned the ‘despicable delinquents’ that attacked one of their players in broad daylight near Gunwharf Quays and left him with a broken jaw.
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Midfielder Billie Busari, 21 - a student at the University of Portsmouth - was set upon by two males in a brutal attack last Friday afternoon in Victory Street.

Busari was visiting Gunwharf to pick up a suit to wear for the following day’s Gosport team building session at Ascot races.

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After being attacked, he drove himself to the St Mary’s walk-in centre, where staff ordered a taxi to take him to QA Hospital.

Gosport Borough midfielder Billie Busari was the victim of an unprovoked attack near Gunwharf Quays last Friday. Picture: Tom PhillipsGosport Borough midfielder Billie Busari was the victim of an unprovoked attack near Gunwharf Quays last Friday. Picture: Tom Phillips
Gosport Borough midfielder Billie Busari was the victim of an unprovoked attack near Gunwharf Quays last Friday. Picture: Tom Phillips

Gosport boss Shaun Gale was allowed to visit him on Friday evening before Busari’s father travelled down from London.

A 23-year-old man, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, was arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent, criminal damage and possessing an offensive weapon in a private place.

Police are still carrying out enquiries and have appealed to the public for help in catching Busari’s second attacker.

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Gosport chairman Iain McInnes - a former Portsmouth FC chairman - said in a statement that ‘mindless thugs’ staged ‘a cowardly attack on one of the nicest young men you could wish to meet.

‘Billie is currently studying for an electronics degree at Portsmouth University and as we all know is progressing a promising football career destined to go higher in the ranks.

‘Billie is back home in London along with his family as you can imagine all fairly traumatised by events and not feeling too disposed on him returning to Portsmouth or Gosport FC and who can blame them.’

McInnes added: ‘We are working with all authorities committed to finding (find them we will) and bringing to book these despicable delinquents.

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‘The club has made a substantial donation to Crimewatchers whilst we consider the value of posting a reward for any information leading to the arrest of the assailants.’

Busari joined Gosport - who play in the seventh tier of English football - last October from Southern League Premier South rivals Chesham after starting his university course.

Hailing from the capital, Busari was signed by both the Fulham and Reading Acadmies before joining South Midlands League Premier Division side Tring Athletic in 2018. He joined Chesham in the summer of 2020.

Last season he scored three Southern League goals for Gosport - including a winner at Hendon - and had netted in a 4-2 pre-season friendly win over AFC Portchester just a few days before being hospitalised.

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Gale told The News: ‘It was a nasty attack, really nasty. It was a complete break of the jaw. Billie is one of the nicest people you could meet, he wouldn’t hurt a fly.

‘He is a really popular member of the dressing room, and we’ve got a close dressing room - we socialise together, the players look out for each other. The lads are devastated for Billie.’

Regarding the attack on Busari, a police statement said: ‘Were you in the area at the time? Did you hear what was said? Did you see the assault?

‘The first suspect is described as being aged in his 20s, around 6ft 1in tall and of skinny build. He was wearing a camouflaged-style vest top.

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‘The second suspect is described as being aged in his 30s, around 5ft 9ins tall and of stocky build. He was a wearing a nude-coloured top with blue jeans.

‘One of the suspects was walking a dog at the time of the incident.

‘He has been released on conditional bail and our enquiries are ongoing.’

Anyone with any information should call 101 quoting reference 44220294867.’

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The football community, meanwhile, has sent Busari a welter of good wishes on social media - both in terms of clubs from the Portsmouth area and wider afield from Gosport’s league.

Steve Marshall - a councillor in Gosport - tweeted: ‘Sickening and seems to be becoming more common. Really hope the offenders are caught and brought to justice.

Billie, hope you feel better soon. Don't let these characters ruin your ambitions.’

Gale added: ‘The messages of support for Billie have been great. There’s still a lot of good people out there - and they outweigh the bad.

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‘It’s sad these things happen, but that seems to be the way of the world now.

‘He’s a strong kid and I have no doubts we’ll see him again.

‘Hopefully the police will do their bit now, and I urge anyone who has any information to report it. It could be vital in taking the people responsible for this disgusting attack off the streets.’