Akwa United
Chairman, Paul Bassey has revealed that the club may not continue the league if
four of their players in the national camp preparing for the CHAN qualifier
against Benin Republic were not released for the games.
There are
only six matches left in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) with
Akwa United third on the log behind Plateau United and MFM FC of Lagos and
Bassey believes his club would win the title if they had the full compliment of
players to prosecute the games.
Speaking in
Maiduguri after Akwa United’s clash with El Kanemi at the weekend, Bassey said:
“Due to our match with Rivers United in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, I sought
for permission from the LMC for a shift, which was denied due to fixture
congestion. I accepted the decision in good faith. But you can imagine playing
on Wednesday and heading immediately to Maiduguri for a Sunday encounter. It
took its toll yesterday.
“We have
been very unlucky going into the last lap of the league as the team has been
plagued by injuries and absence of key players. It is not only about Ojo, who
did not stand between the posts yesterday due to injury. Of the four
goalkeepers in our squad only one is available. We are working round the clock
to get Ojo fit for the weekend. Emmanson and Iwu are down. Only Shagari is ok.
“Of the four
regular defenders, Godspower Igudia is burying his father this weekend, Kodjo
Dadzie has been on admission for stomach ulcer for two weeks running, leaving
only Ariwa and Skipper Ottobong Effiong.
“Move to the
attack. Christian Pyagbara and Moses Ebiye have left the country for the
proverbial trials… Gideon and Amaechi may not be fit before the season ends,
while Adio’s knee injury has been stubborn four months running.
“You can see
why we cannot do without the four players invited to the CHAN Eagles camp.
Before now, we had told the NFF and the LMC that for you to invite four players
from Akwa United, while others are limited to a maximum of two (Except Rangers)
and refuse to release them was to indirectly give our adversaries undue
advantage especially at a time like this.”
Bassey
revealed that he had assured CHAN Eagles’ Coach, Salisu Yusuf that he would
ensure the players returned to camp whenever they were released to play for
Akwa United, adding, “After our match in Port Harcourt, I put them on a plane
from Port Harcourt to Abuja and in Abuja they took another flight to Kano to
guarantee prompt and stress free arrival. I thank Salisu for his understanding.
With their
sight firmly set on a continental ticket, Bassey said depriving Akwa United the
use of their “players at such a crucial time as now will mean working against
the aspirations of not only the club but the good people of Akwa Ibom State,
led by Governor Udom Emmanuel, who has
been very supportive in the quest for an historic league diadem in the life of
the club
“I may not
be a coach but I believe competitive matches at weekends will leave the coach
with match fit players to the country’s
advantage. Salisu does not need to lock them up for weeks. He knows them very
well. I will be surprised if he does not already know his starting 11 against
Benin by now. He is that intelligent
“We
have teams, who are faring better than
us in the league yet only two of their players were called to camp. Others have
just one. You can imagine our predicament where three of our midfielders and
the only reliable central defender are not available. Yes three
midfielders. I hope we have done nothing
wrong.” Akwa United will travel to Ijebu Ode this weekend to meet Sunshine
Stars of Akure.
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