By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
Akwa United FC of Uyo has set sights on winning the elusive Nigerian Professional Football League crown when the league would restart later in the year.
To this end, club chairman Mr Paul Bassey has mandated Coach Kennedy Boboye to assemble a crack squad that would enable the club realize this objective.
Bassey who made this known at an end of year message to players and management of the team in Uyo also instructed the coach to identify areas of need in the playing personnel inorder to fill such gaps with the right players before the commencement of the new league season.
The FIFA/CAF match commissioner maintained that despite the problems posed by COVID-19 that saw the league truncated, the club
remained grateful to God and Governor Udom Emmanuel for sustaining it as a force to be reckoned with in the Nigerian football circle.
He maintained that the club remained a model in the NPFL with players welfare always a priority, been consistent, winning several trophies since the emergence of Emmanuel as Governor of Akwa Ibom five years ago.
“Since the advent of the Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration, Akwa United has been the club to beat. Two FA Cups in four years, with a League standing not lower than fourth, except this year, when the League was truncated with a whopping 13 matches to go.
“Akwa United is one of the very few clubs that has paid players
salary up to date. The welfare of players is primary. We are not
owing any bonus, we are not owing any player clearance fees. We thank
his Excellency Governor Udom Emmanuel for a high level of governance that has no comparison when it comes to service delivery and welfare of workers in the State.
Bassey commended the State
Commissioner for Youth and Sports Mr Monday Uko for his committment and belief in the team even in trying times adding that preparations for the new season would commence in earnest.
“We had a near calamity of a season drawing six matches and losing one yet the Commissioner was positive that we will end well, and we were in that trajectory drawing two away matches at a stretch until COVID-19 struck.
“With an LMC document last week, officially calling for preparations
for the next season, we are in the process of recruiting players to
plug the holes of those that will leave us this month. Coach Boboye has been mandated to assemble a strong force that will
challenge for the league diadem next season.” He said.
The Chairman thanked those players whose loan tenure and contracts have ended and wished them well in their future plans.
Meanwhile an internal five man team has been constituted by the club to tidy up all issues relating to the Club licensing requirements of
both CAF and LMC.
“There is no doubt that we have one of the best stadiums in Africa
and the best in Nigeria by a mile, yet we will double check to make
sure we are set to go.The Nest of Champions in Uyo has all the must requirements of CAF, yet I want you to double check and send in your report within a week.” He charged while inaugurating the committee.
The committee has the Team Manager Mr. Emmanuel
Udoh as Chairman. Other members are; the Club Secretary Mr. Omon
Bassey, the Welfare Officer Mr. Asuquo Samuel, the Club
Psychologist Coach Ime Uko while the team’s Media Manager Mr. Mfon Patrick would serve as Secretary.
