Spurring Abia Warrior To Greater Heights, Kudos To A Sports Loving Governor
Written by Francis Nwaubani
According to a FIFA recognized football analyst and historian, Mr. Ejikeme Ikwunze, also known as Mr. Football, it takes the combination of a good sponsor, great managers and technical crew as well as sound players to build a formidable team.
Although, the 2023/2024 Football Season has ended in Nigeria, the ripples of that great season both in the League and President’s Federation Cup also known as the ‘Challenge or F. A. Cup will continue to reverberate for a long time to come.
For one, it was the first time the Umuahia based Football Club, Abia Warriors against all odds, took the F. A. Cup by storm by winning the State level of the competition against no less a team than Enyimba and moving ahead to reach the final of the Nation’s F. A. Cup Competition.
Although, the Club lost to the winners of that prestigious competition, El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri, it is no mean feat that a club that has remained at best average before the advent of the present administration in Abia led by Dr. Alex Otti was able to rise to such heights out of the about seventy teams that embarked on that contest nationwide.
From its humble beginnings as NEPA Football Club of Umuahia in 1992, Abia Warriors of Umuahia has grown to be a top contender in the Nation’s football firmament and stand strongly today as one of the teams to watch out for this coming season.
Much kudos must be given to the sports loving Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti for maintaining the footballing culture of the state in being the only state with four professional football clubs across the different cadres of the Nation’s football League including Enyimba, Abia Warriors, Abia Angels and Abia Comets.
There is no gain saying the fact that the sponsorship of these Club sides remains a huge financial burden on the finances of the state, but Governor Alex Otti has shown love and zest for youth-related courses and has continued to invest in sports infrastructure and sporting activities resulting in a growing sports industry in Abia.
Sports remains one of the biggest industries in the world today and an investment in that direction is laying a foundation for budding talents to grow and shine at the international stage with the attendant economic impacts on themselves, their families, communities, state and nation at large.
Also, worthy of mention is the part played by the experienced and versatile Honourable Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development in Abia State, Sir Nwobilor Ananaba and the Chairman of the Club, Chief John Obuh, who rallied Abians to the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos on Saturday, June 29, 2024 for that historic final.
The fans and supporters of Abia Warriors at that final despite the loss were colourful and encouraging and cannot be forgotten in a hurry.
Commendation must also go to the Board and Management of the Club who worked day and night to ensure that all was done for the technical crew and players to excel and it is the belief of every football loving Abian that the future is ever brighter for Abia Warriors.
As preparations for the new football season in Nigeria commence in earnest, it is the expectations of Abians that Abia Warriors would surpass their twelfth position on the League table and contend for the top position in the League through recruitment of quality players and coaching crew.
Government on its side should look into supporting the Club more financially as well as taking a second look at the playing turf at the Umuahia Township Stadium with a view to making it a comfortable play-at-home season for Abia Warriors.
To God be the Glory.