The appointment and subsequent inauguration of Kanu Nwankwo and John Ogbu as Chairmen of Enyimba of Aba, and Abia Warriors, as well as the ascension of Sporting Lagos FC to the nation’s elitist league, the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL); have been rousingly applauded by many followers of football in the country; including former NPFL stars, former Nigerian internationals, and football pundits.
Kanu, a former captain of the Super Eagles and 1996 Atalanta Olympics Gold medal winning team, takes over from Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, whose 20-year-reign as Chairman of the Aba Peoples’ Elephant brought the club unprecedented success, encapsulated in the over 22 major trophies, including back-to-back CAF Champions League titles in 2003 and 2004.
On the other hand, John Ogbu who came into lime light as Head Coach of the nation’s Under-17 men’s team, the Golden Eaglets and the U-20 men’s team, the Flying Eagles; with stints at Kwara United and Niger Tornadoes in the NPFL, takes over from Pastor (Chief) Emeka Inyama who piloted affairs of Abia Warriors for 16 long years.
Both men swung into action by appointing sporting directors or directors of football; Ifeanyi Ekwueme, a former Super Eagles player for Enyimba and Emeka Ifejiagwa who also played for the Super Eagles, got the job at Abia Warriors.
Both nomenclature aren’t new to Nigerian football, but no football club in the history of professional league and football in the country has operated with such an office, which is crucial in the areas of sale of players, scouting, recruitment, arrangement of friendlies and pre-season activities; and general oversight over all football related issues.
With the arrival of both Kanu, and Ogbu have now arrive in Aba to begin their reigns as the Chairmen of Enyimba Int’l of Aba and Abia Warriors of Umuahia; expectations are sky high, that they will make the most of the new vista opened in the history of football in Nigeria.
Already, one of the factional unions, the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) has issued a statement, in which it openly admitted to the ‘adequately representation’ of the Union, via the inclusion of three of its members; Daniel Amokachi, Prince Davidson Owumi and Dominic Iorfa, to serve in the reconstituted NPFL board.
While giving thumbs up to the Ibrahim Gusau-led NFF board for the appointments, the PFAN expressed their optimism that “these gentlemen will bring a lot of quality and bag full of experience to further assist Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye to propel the NPFL to the zenith of African football and help the Ibrahim Gusau-led board in the ongoing repositioning of Nigeria football…”.
To set the ball rolling, Abia Warriors Football Club under the Chairmanship of John Obuh has sealed a Business and Marketing consultancy deal with Afrocultor Nigeria Limited a renowned marketing and business development firm.
The MOU was signed by both parties, during a brief ceremony held at the Club Secretariat in Umuahia; where Managing Director of Afrocultor, Barrister Chuks Akamadu expressed his delight to have been given the oppurutnity to contribute to the growth and sustainable development of Abia Warriors FC, and football in both Abia State and the country at large.
In his words; “we want to assure the chairman, Coach Obuh, and his team that the confidence wouldn’t be fluffed away, we’ll make sure the team is repositioned for greater productivity and also expose the brand to organized Private sector in terms of support and sponsorship”.
Responding, the Chairman Abia Warriors FC, Coach Obuh restated his commitment to making Abia Warriros a global brand.
“One of the mandates given to me as the Chairman of Abia Warriors FC is expand the club taking advantage of sponsorship and supports. This will not be the only firm am going to be giving consultancy opportunities, because we have to expand our coast as there are also some international agencies that will partner with us in due course“.
Only on Sunday, July 16, 2023 in Lagos, the inaugural edition of the private sector-driven tournament, Ninja Super 8 ended with Sporting Lagos FC, the latest ‘big thing’ in the the nation’s chequred football folklore, winning the trophy and whopping twenty-five million Naira prize money.
But the manner and swag the tournament was organized, has remained talk of the town, and there is almost a concensus that if all that happened on the final day was what Nigerian football offers, many more will want to be part of it.
The carnival-like atmosphere; music, the dance, the vociferous fans, ambiance, youngsters playing attractive football and displaying soccer artistry; as well as the arrangement that would see to the live-streaming of about eight matches a week, in the upcoming season, are added impetuses, the league could receive.
The structure at Sporting Lagos FC, anchored by its CEO Godwin Enakhena and Head Coach Paul Offor; who facilitated it’s growth and promotion to the NPFL within 12 months, has also been the envy of many, and is worth emulating by other clubs in the NPFL, and the second tier league, the Nigeria National League (NNL); as only a truly professional league clubs, ran as self-sustaining businesses and profitable corporate entities, can give our elite clubs and the top leagues, the lift we all desire.
