By Amos Etuk
And it came to pass in history on Sunday, November 22, 2015 as Akwa United Football Club won the 2015 Federation Cup at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos State beating Lobi Stars of Markurdi by 2-1 in front of a capacity crowd of passionate fans in their thousands including Governor Udom Emmanuel as the victory automatically berths the team on the continent among Nigeria’s representatives at the Confederation Cup Competition of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
It was a victory that was widely expected especially with the fact that the team had a better record in the out gone season over their opponents and the psychological edge taken to the fixture after the last league match which coincidentally featured both sides a week earlier had put Akwa United on a bigger advantage.
The celebrations and commendations have been endless since the team achieved this great feat and we must commend the team managed by Coach Zachary Baraje for making history in Akwa Ibom State and being the first set of heroes that have brought national sporting honours to the state especially winning Nigeria’s oldest football competition joining legendary club sides that have walked the path of the glory in the past years and decades.
So much has been said about the team, a lot of commitments have been made and I have watched with passion and satisfaction the commitment of our amiable Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel as he begins to brand the state’s biggest export in the new drive that will promote sports tourism in Akwa Ibom State.
The reception given to the team on Wednesday, November 25,2015 was inspiring especially to the youths who rise to the greatness of the new vision of Akwa Ibom State which the Governor Udom Emmanuel administration has charted as the reward for success opens bigger mileages and milestones enhancing careers and producing heroes and heroines.
One of the greatest remarks after the victory of Akwa United was the remarks made by the Club Manager, Zachary Baraje who told the media that the victory and reality that team will play on the continent next season means that the board and management of the club must hit the ground running and begin early preparations ahead of the new season which will start in February 2016 with the continental play offs.
Yours sincerely believes that our football administrators will learn from history and sincerely chart a well packaged programme for the team to make an impression which must be positive on the continent next season.
The challenges Zachary Baraje has had this out gone season is widely known among sports fans in the state as consistent administrative bottle necks have hindered the team in her preparations in most periods of the league till the latter stages where the battle for survival in the league became apparent and the rush to pay all outstanding debts of the team was made to motivate the players.
It will be a different ball game in 2016 as Africa welcomes Akwa United to a baptism of featuring among Africa’s best clubs including the likes of TP Mazembe of Congo who started at this level and have gone ahead to win Africa’s prized tournament the CAF Champions League and other great clubs like Orlando Pirates of South Africa, Etoile De Sahel of Tunisia and other notable sides that have made the competition outstanding.
The moment to re-define the professional status of Akwa United has come as it will be no longer business as usual in their administration of the club and the fact that next season will see the club feature on the continent, the league and also the Federation Cup and with the victory of the 2015 edition of the competition, the status of the club has definitely changed as the lame excuses of inadequate funding which has consistently threatened the team in the last few seasons must addressed adequately.
There is the need to plan effectively and successfully for the 2016 season and that begins with a comprehensive programme for the team which should include the recruitment of quality players that will adorn the colours of the team. We aware that the team featured in the out gone season was just below average as they virtually struggled all season in the league and the attractive status of the team at the moment will surely see the influx of new players who will definitely want to ply their trade with the ‘’ Promise Keepers ‘’ next season.
The pressure will definitely be on the management led by Akparawa Nse Ubeh who in his quiet strides of sterling administration has silenced his critics as this victory and continental berth puts him on the pivot to fully chart the course of the team in the new season.
We are all aware that Akparaw Nse Ubeh came on board after Hon. Isong Isang his predecessor had resigned few months after the league had started and during his inaugural interaction with Sports Writers, he had assured the people of Akwa Ibom State that he will take Akwa United to the elitie of professional football.
Many soccer pundits and even administrators may not have believed him but today, his commitment to serve the club and fulfilment of the promise he had made earlier has brought glory to Akwa Ibom State and I sincerely single him out for his drive and personal commitment to drive the vision of the 2015 season successfully.
The moment to change our sports history has come and it is pertinent that the sports ministry sits down with the henchmen relevant to promoting our sports and work out a comprehensive programme that will enhance a successful season for Akwa United next season.
A successful season for Akwa United in 2016 should be getting into the group stages of the CAF Confederation Cup, winning the Federation Cup back to back and finishing among the top three clubs at the end of the football season.
These are targets that can achieved and I sincerely plead that there should be no administrative bottle necks to stall the strides of the team in the new season and it remains important that the Ministry of Youth and Sports should please prepare a well detailed budget for the team to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly so that the defence, passage and eventual release of funds would enhance the team’s preparations and fixtures as they progress.
The drive for a greater renaissance in Akwa Ibom State could not have come at any better time and the thrust of sports continues to unite the country, generate more revenue and above all provide a platform for the youths to excel and the moment to lay a stronger marketing platform for sports development in Akwa Ibom State beckons.
Luckily, the Nest of Champions, the pride of sports development in Akwa Ibom State will be host to the new spectacle that will throng the state from next season as the growth of sports tourism must fully be enhanced to attract private sector interest in the state.
That brings me to the important issue of sponsorship for the club next season. The drive for the independence of the club must begin in earnest as it must reflect a professional status next season and that means having genuine sponsors that will promote the club and have extra mileage with their products and services in the next season. I believe this should be a priority to the club and the state government through the sports ministry as the partnership will surely go a long way in making the club financially stable especially if funds are judiciously utilised.
The need to have a quality team next season should be devoid of sentiments as the right choice of players must be recruited to feature for the team and their welfare needs enhanced to produce the needed and effective results at the end of the season.
The glamour which has now adorned the club must be handled professionally especially in the management of players, their welfare and relationship on and off the pitch and it is pertinent to retain certain players who were outstanding during the season and lay off the liabilities if we intend to make a successful season.
Surely, the fan base of the club has definitely increased as we will likely witness an influx of supporters outside the state for the team’s home matches and that is a pivotal reason we must feature a team that will have all departments filled with quality players and play the best of football that will attract more fans to the Nest of Champions, attract more fans from outside the state to boost hotel tourism and generate more revenue for the club.
While we await a successful season next year, the early preparations must include engaging in top friendly matches that will put the team in shape and exposing the players to more quality facilities as they begin the quest for continental glory.
Beyond the victory of Akwa United, it is expected that a new dawn will beckon on our football in Akwa Ibom State and that the focus would be on how to steer the team into the new horizon of endless opportunities and victories that beckons. The new page of a glorious beginning finally opens and each line of Akwa United’s strides must be boldly written in GOLD.
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