Obinna Uchendu Abakaliki
The New acquired Ebonyi State football team in the Nigeria National League, Abakaliki FC will tomorrow, 30th November 2024 square up with Madiba FC of Lagos in the opening fixture of the 2024-25 NNL, season.
The encounter is billed to take place at the Pa-Ngele Oruta Township Stadium in Abakaliki. The game is the only fixture to be played this weekend.
Addressing members of the Ebonyi State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports in the State, Mr. Richard Idike said that the State Government in it’s effort to bring back sporting activities in the State acquired the football club.
Mr. Idike noted that in the last 17 years, the State has been without a football team and commended the State Governor, Francis Nwifuru for resuscitating sports development in the State.
He maintained that the football team has been in camp preparing for the new season and expressed the optimism that with the crop of players and the coaching crew, the team is sure of victory and promotion in the next season.
The Sports Commissioner said that all modalities has been put in place to ensure a successful game adding that the State Governor, Francis Nwifuru will be at the stadium to watch the match and support the boys to victory.
Meanwhile, residents of Abakaliki and it’s environs has expressed joy over the unavailing of the State New football team and commended the State Governor for the bold step taken in actualizing the dream of sports loving citizens of the State.
Some of the residents who spoke to journalists during the unavailing of the team urged the State Government to give the team all the needed assistance to succeed.
One of them, Mr. Chikwendu Uguru said, we must appreciate the State Governor for this wonderful gesture. It has been more than 15 years that sports loving residents of the State witnessed professional football league and we are happy that the State Governor has once again made it possible.
“We are appealing to the State Government in the spirit of massive support for the new team to allow sports lovers to watch the match free of charge. The NNL will request for gate fee but we are appealing to our Governor to graciously avail us the opportunity of watching the match free.