June, 20 2023.
Following the dissolution of the Boards of Enyimba of Aba and Abia Warriors of Umuahia, which are both owned and funded by the Abia State government, www.ckdmedia.ng can report that efforts geared towards reconstituting the boards have began with the appointment of an Interim Chairman for one of the clubs.
While the identify of the Acting Chairman of Enyimba is yet to be made public, there is an outcry already by virtually all football stakeholders in the state and every facet of Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Club, Abia Warriors, moments after one Mr. Innocent Oweh was announced to take temporary charge of the Ochendo Boys.
When we sort to find out why there were so many hues and cries over the said appointment, we gathered on good authority that it had to do with the competence, personality and character of the man given such a huge responsibility, Mr. Oweh.
"Wonders shall never cease as far as Nigerian Football League is concerned, as the newly appointed Acting Chairman, Mr. Oweh was as at last season just the driver to our Head Coach, Erasmus Onu", said our source, who asked not to be identified.
He added that Mr. Oweh as a driver, served the club very well, but considering the dynamics of Nigeria football, he lacked the competence, capacity and personality to steer the ship of a club like Abia Warriors, which finished 14th on the log last season. Should the government insist on the appointment of Mr. Oweh, he will step into the huge shoes vacated by Pastor (Chief) Emeka Inyama who piloted affairs of the club for sixteen years and from the lower leagues, until in 2013 when they got promoted to the NPFL.
Founded in 2003, they started league football under the name "Orji Uzor Kalu FC" in honor of former Abia Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu who helped the club with state sponsorship upon promotion to Pro. Division 2, that was between 2005 and 2010 before they reverted to their old name in the summer of 2010.
It is however unclear why the name of the caretaker boss of Enyimba is being withheld by the state government.
Until the dissolution of the Enyimba board, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu served as Chairman for twenty years, during which the Peoples' Elephant won no fewer than 22 trophies, including two in the CAF Champions League, which were won back-to-back in 2003 and 2004.
The concern of virtually all the stakeholders is that football is now pure business, and no longer a recreation or conversational public service and given that Enyimba just won a record-extending ninth NPFL title which qualified them to represent Nigeria in the CAF Champions League, the Alex Otti led Abia State government must be spot on and prompt in ensuring that round pegs are installed in round holes, if the desired results are to be achieved.
Comentarios