Ebonyi set to float state-owned football club

Mr Charles Akpuenika, the Commissioner for Youths Development and Sports in Ebonyi, said the ministry has set up a technical team to midwife the proposed state-owned football club.
Akpuenika said this on Friday in Abakaliki during the unveiling of the trophy and draws for the finals of the Governor’s Super Cup Competition, slated for April 28.
He said that the technical team, which comprised five reputable coaches, would watch matches during the competition, select and groom the best players to form the proposed team.
He said: “This unique competition will feature the best teams that emerged from the 24 state constituencies during the preliminary rounds.
“The governor is desirous to float state-owned football teams, following the disbandment of its male and female teams by the previous administration.”
The commissioner said that the selected players would be groomed to play a series of top-grade friendly matches to keep them in shape.
“The team will thereafter be registered for a national league competition as the state Football Association (FA) has assured of a slot when the team is ready.”
The FA secretary, Mr Desmond Ome, urged representatives of the competing teams to ensure that their players and officials maintained high level of discipline during the competition.
“Skills and techniques will not be the only criteria for selecting players. Discipline will be a major criterion.
“Teams from the 24 state constituencies would participate in the competition, including the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) team, which would bring the number to 25.
“The competition would be on a knock-out basis,” the commissioner said.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fixture for the first knockout phase showed that Afikpo South West would play Ishielu South; Ohaukwu South against Ohaozara West, among others.
Ebonyi currently has no team in the nation’s football leagues.