By Emmanuel Ndukauba
Nnewi – Ifeanyi Ubah, who emerged chairman of the Anambra Football Association (AFA) on May 3, has expressed his willingness to work with other football stakeholders in the state.
Ubah had told newsmen on Wednesday at Nnewi that he was aware of some discontent in football circles in the state over his emergence as the state FA chairman.
He said that in the prevailing circumstances, he was the best option and that he was willing to work in partnership with other genuine sports lovers in the development of football in the state.
He made his views known at the unveiling ceremony of “Football Made in Anambra Kits“ which he had pioneered.
Ubah, who is also the President of FC Ifeanyi Ubah, admitted being aware of some discontent over his emergence as AFA chairman.
According to him, my emergence is in the best interest of the game of football and youth development in the state.
“I am in a hurry to deliver on my promises to the Anambra football community and I have hit the ground running with this “Football Made in Anambra Kits“ programme.
“I also have a package for the development of the Women Football League in the state.
“I am willing to work with anybody who truly loves football in the state FA; my chairmanship is the middle point in the war between Mike Umeh and Jude Obikwelu, which divided the FA into two camps.
“There is need to save our football and if this board headed by me did not come up, the crisis would have still been raging, so we need to see the new direction and sense of purpose in our association.
“I am determined to carry out my promises and all what is going on now is about 90 per cent my initiative, so my team will not be in problems,” he said.
Ubah, who during the occasion unveiled the AFA branded kits consisting of footballs, vests and banners, said they would be put to use in November.
He said the project was targeted at distributing 50, 000 footballs to 2,000 families across the 21 Local Government areas of Anambra, with the aim of developing football talents at the budding stage.
“The materials for our football programme are ready and by November, we shall kick off. Our female football league is at the final stage of preparation.
“We promise to give Anambra people the best,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a good number of football stakeholders in Anambra, including club owners, had expressed dissatisfaction in the manner of Ubah’s election as the state’s FA chairman on May 3.
NAN also reports that Ubah on resumption of office, made a pledge of N150 million to AFA, for the running of its activities.