Why Gov. Alex Otti Will Not Merge Enyimba, Abia Warriors FC – Spokesperson
Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser on media and publicity to the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti has explained why the governor did not consider merging Enyimba and Abia Warriors Football Clubs to form one club?
Giving reasons, Ekeoma in a statement released on Friday said;
1. The two Clubs are playing in the Premier League and thus stand the chance of qualifying for the lucrative Champions league that would give the clubs the opportunity to become more prominent and successful, and their players, the opportunity to achieve life-changing breakthroughs.
2.Merging the two clubs would deny some productive and usefully engaged players and staff the opportunity they have now for economic survival and career development and advancement. This is why the management of the two clubs are preparing to prioritise excellence by having only those who can add value either as staff or as players remain in the clubs.
3. The two clubs can become economically viable and self reliant if they are professionally managed. The present government does not intend to personalise and politicise the management of the clubs, and would not encourage the kind of financial recklessness that made the clubs to perpetually depend on Government for existence and survival.
4. Henceforth, the management of the two clubs would strive to build them to become strong football institutions with the organisational structures that would enable sustainability. To achieve this, the Club would be run as a business focusing on profitability. To achieve such profitability, the Club must do well in all ramifications, which would include winning of trophies, branding, frugality in the management of their resources etc.
5. The concerns being genuinely expressed by some persons are understandable, however, they are predicated on the assumption that the established template of unprofessionalism and corruption which left the clubs to exist at the mercy of government and politicians would be sustained. That is why a club like Enyimba that is known and respected across Africa does not have a kobo in its bank account, hence they depended on Dr. Otti as a governor-elect to fund the recent Super 6 Championship Playoffs which they won. The question is; what if the then Governor-elect Dr. Alex Otti didn’t have the personal money to give to them during that period of emergency? Such monumental failure in management will not be allowed to continue in the present Enyimba and Abia Warriors.
