Saving Akwa United from relegation By Amos Etuk

 

These are not the best of times for soccer fans and the development of the beautiful game in Akwa Ibom State. 

The expectations and enthusiasm which heralded the beginning of the present season may have understandly reduced to more of worry and anxiety on the fate of our darling clubside, Akwa United Football club, the flagship of Akwa Ibom State in the Nigeria Professional Football league whose current standing on the league table has raised genuine cause for concern by fans and even the management of the team. 

No team likes to be in the present position of Akwa United on the league table especially when you consider the obvious facts that with about three matches to go, your darling team may just be barely trying to hold its head high above the murky waters of relegation.
As I write this piece, Akwa United may have played Nembe City at home and I hope the result was worth it as watching the team’s dwindling performance this season, especially in the second round has left many of her supporters down trodden as they face the reality of playing in the lesser National league next season if things go this bad. 

The Nigerian League is a complicated structure as our football on the home scene continues to witness bizzare scenes especially the win at home syndrome of teams and the payment of indemnity by home teams for match officials.
The Nigerian lague table can change with very funny predictions. In one week, a team almost at the bottom could win a home match and be among the top ten, likewise the reverse case.
As unpredictable as the table may be, the content of play has continued to improve especially watching some of the established teams play in Uyo like Enyimba, Kano Pillars, Heartland and even Warri Wolves whom an intense and obvious rivalry may have erupted with Akwa United. 

The expectations for the rest of the league games for Akwa United remains an ardous task with three matches for the season.
As I write this piece, which is before the Nembe City fixture, Akwa United was placed on the 18th position on the 20 team league table, having played 34 matches, won 12, Drawn 7, lost 15, scored 36, conceeded 43, a goals difference of -7 with 43 points.
The remaining three matches for Akwa United include two away matches against Warri Wolves and Kwara United and at home against Kaduna United.
If records are anything to go by, Akwa United has not won any away match this season, picking up two draws against Sharks of Port harcourt and Nassarawa Football club. 

The team has lost its invincibility at home dropping points carelessly with the latest and most painful being against Nassarawa United two weeks ago which was very emotional to the fans and supporters of the club as they watched with awe the downside of their darling team.
One may have expected that the Uyo based club could have translated their sterling performance in the 2013 Federated Cup where they crashed out in the semi finals into the league.
Watching the team play, it becomes a stark reality when you realise the lack of fire power, creativity and cordination of a team as huge as Akwa United in the league this season.
The present Akwa United team lacks depth, lacks creativity, lacks a commanding presence, lacks fire power especially with the absence of striker Ubong Ekpai and above all, lacks any form of technical depth to steer the team to any meaningful success. 

For a team that struggled to earn a scoreline at home is worrisome. For a team that lacks a quality substitute bench is sad. For a team tinkered by a coach who led Niger Tornadoes to relegation last season and faces the same scenario this season is unfortunate.
Watching the team in the last few matches, one wonders what technical content is imbibed into the players training schedule daily as it yields no results on the field of play. 

At times I may boldly state, the players are just left to be creative on their approach to their game and the end results have been a rush to push for last minute goals.
However, we must not lose hope on the survival of this great team, though have failed to win any national trophy have become intergral in the Nigerian League.
Akwa Ibom State fans can not afford to lose another opportunity of another season out of the big league with the opportunity of the big clubs coming to Uyo to play. 

I want to have faith with this team (that is if there is still any form of confidence left in the players) as we work hard in our remaining three matches to pick meaningful pointns to escape relegation.
Out of all our remaining three matches, our greatest threat will be at Warri where we play Warri Wolves. Expectedly, Coach Solomon Ogbeide who tinkered Akwa United last season successfully is doing well with his new side having played in the 2013 Federation Cup final against Enyimba losing narrowly. 

As it stands, Warri stands to play continental if Enyimba wins the league or places second.
Warri Wolves and Akwa United have had a very issue oriented season between both sides.
Recollect the suspicion of their first encounter at the Uyo Stadium where the Warri side was down by two goals at first half and the issue of an alleged assault on the centre referee which left the match abandoned, Akwa United barnished, a replay, appeal and the neutral ground resolutions, it all boils down to that  away game. 

The chances of Akwa United’s survival in the Premier League will boil down once again to the away fixture against Warri Wolves and I appeal that all hands must be on deck to ensure fairplay in that encounter which will be the “Battle of Warri”.
I appeal to the Akwa Ibom Football Association, board of Akwa United Football club, our supporters and the Nigerian League board to pay keen interest in this particular game. 

We must mobilise our supporters to be in Warri and I must appeal to the Akwa Ibom State Government to have a pep talk with these players before they depart.
The team needs a psychologist all the way in these last games and all departments of the team must be given full attention including player’s welfare for them to succeed. 

We must not allow Akwa United go on relegation. I just hope this slim ray of hope would ensure a miracle for this team.
Only time will tell, but do we really have a team?