Abia State government has revealed why the Enyimba International Football Club Stadium in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state would not be hosting the home games of the Abia elite football club ahead of the 2023/2024 Confederation of African Champions (CAF) League games.
The Special Media Adviser to governor Alex Otti, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma in a post on his official Facebook page wrote
“Enyimba Stadium Aba: Separating the Facts on Ground from the Propaganda on Air.
“A few days ago, I got a call from our legendary Papilo, Kanu Nwankwo who happens to be the Chairman of Enyimba Football Club of Aba.
“He called to know how I was doing.
“I later enquired to know where he was and he said he was in Uyo to receive some CAF officials who came in to tidy things ahead of the CAF Champions league.
“As we conversed, Papilo told me he was very angry and disappointed.
“His anger and disappointment stemmed from the fact that Enyimba Stadium Aba wasn’t going to host Enyimba’s Champions League home games, because the stadium was adjudged to be very bad and unfit to host CAF Champions league matches.
“He regretted that all the benefits and privileges, that ought to have gone to Enyimba for being the host were going to Uyo.
“Papilo was furious that a Football club like Enyimba could be owing 24 Match bonuses and three months salary arrears to players.
“He felt disappointed that Enyimba was selling players in secret courtesy of those in charge who must have diverted the funds realised from such sales into their private pockets, and maintained that such unprofessional conduct happened because the individuals involved never knew how Football Club should be run and never had the interest of the club and the State at heart.
“The Super Eagles legend was angry that the agents of the same government that superintended the grounding of Enyimba were attacking and vilifying him for daring to initiate a process of reorganising and sanitising the Club, and made it clear to me that his target going forward was to begin the process of building a formidable structure that would ensure that Enyimba becomes very successful.
“Anyone who sits down and listens to Papilo would easily see experience, exposure, knowledge, passion and understanding of the job given to him.
“Papilo is poised to go beyond winning trophies, to building a brand that would be reckoned with.
“He wants to lay a solid foundation for institution-based success and sustainability.
“How can one explain that a club like Enyimba didn’t have a dime in its coffers ahead of the Super Six they won recently and therefore had to make a request to Dr. Alex Otti and subsequently got several millions of naira from him at a time he had not been sworn in as Governor.
“The question is; what would have been the fate of the club if Dr. Otti hadn’t the money to give?
“It’s the same situation at Abia Warriors where an International Award-winning coach John Obuh was recently appointed as the Chairman by Governor Alex Otti to build a formidable Abia Warriors.
“Anyone that is sincere will agree that the situation in Enyimba and Abia Warriors respectively is very disgraceful, hence the need to give the Chairmen and the entire management team all the support they require to succeed.
“The pictures attached here reflect the facts on ground in Enyimba, so beware of the fake propaganda pictures they display when they want to deceive and mislead you over their accomplishments.
“God willing, our sad history will be rewritten for the good of all.”
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At the time of filing the report, the former governor of the state, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and Enyimba’s former administrator and Board Chairman of Enyimba, Felix Anyansi Agwu were yet to respond to the allegations levelled against them by the Labour Party (LP) led government in the state.
