NAN-S-17
Club
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Jan. 9, 2018 (NAN) Emeka Inyama, the Chairman of Abia Warriors Football Club (FC), on Tuesday said plans were ongoing to ensure that the club was an independent one in the next three years.
Inyama told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the Umuahia-based club’s goal was to make it more commercially viable.
He explained that the successes achieved by the club had been as a result of an experienced management team as well as the support received from Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia.
Inyama said Abia Warriors FC was one of the best-organised professional football clubs in the country and was being run with the highest standards and with a functional academy.
“The experience of the management has been a great benchmark to the strides and successes achieved so far by this great club.
“We have a well-structured academy and we have created an affinity for the club.
“Gov. Ikpeazu has also been the best supporter of the club. He has always showed his determination to transform the club to making it more commercially viable.
“He has been supportive and has always been available to listen to us whenever we needed anything to make our job easier.
“The support is 100 percent and we are taking it beyond that to make sure that the club is an independent one in the next three years,” he said.
On the club’s goal for the 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season, the chairman said: “The league is a marathon. For us there is no advantage or disadvantage.
“What matters is preparing very well for the new season. It is very clear, picking points at home and away is very necessary. For us, it’s time to work.
“Coach Rafael Everton is a man that comes highly rated and he has the support of the management.
“He has been saddled with the responsibility of creating a unique structure for the club. We have brought on board a man that has what it takes to push the club to the next level.”
NAN reports that Abia Warriors will begin their campaign at home to Lagos-based Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) Football Club on Sunday.
Abia Warriors finished 12th on the NPFL table last season with 53 points.
Inyama added that the club’s overall target was to pick a ticket to play on the continent in 2019.
He expressed confidence in the ability of the team’s current technical crew and squad to deliver.
“Every player is striving to make the first team because there is no reserved shirt for any player under the new coach.
“The competition among the players is a healthy one because it demands that every player should be at his very best anytime he is called upon to play.
“Getting all the three points in the first match is always important and we’ll work hard to ensure we beat MFM in Umuahia,” Inyama said.
The 2017/2018 NPFL season has been slated to kick off on Jan. 14 and comes to an end on Sept. 30.(NAN)
VO/MO/OLAL
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(Edited by Omolade Morayo and Olawale Alabi)