By Victor Enyinnaya on July 7, 2016

Former member of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Prince Isidore Oduah, has welcomed the election of Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah as the Chairman of Anambra State Football Association and advised him to hold tight to humility as he embarks on the enormous task of reviving and bringing the state to her former pace setting role in football and indeed other sports.

The former Vice Chairman of the State Football Association spoke during an exclusive telephone chat from his country home, Ogbaru, Anambra State, adding, it is by so doing that Ubah can realise the confidence the government and the people of the state reposed in him.

“I will advise him to work with his board and listen to them so as to run an all-inclusive football body that would meet the aspirations of the people.  Once he brought himself to the level of learning and also allowing other people to contribute their quota on how football would be moved forward in the state, the job is half done.”

The former member of the State Sports Council further implored Ubah to go down memory lane as a business mogul and follow the footprints left by the likes of Alhaji Isiaku Ibrahim who did a lot to grow Mighty Jets FC of Jos, The Israel Adebajo enduring hard work in Stationary Stores FC of Lagos and MKO Abiola tone setting strides in the defunct Abiola Babes of Abeokuta, adding that “they were money bags like Ubah but they maintained their cool and gave the game their best shot. It is why the history of Nigerian football would be incomplete without mentioning them. It has to be replicated in the state, he remarks.”

Oduah recalled how football went awry in the Anambra State saying governors contributed to the collapse of the game with their different unworkable ideas. He however, singled out late Emeka Omeruah as visionary.

“All eyes are now on Ubah to set machinery in motion to get the state football on stream. Nothing would be too much for the billionaire Oil and Gas businessman to make as sacrifice as his contribution to bring back life and vitality to the round leather game to take full hold in the State,”

The former board member of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria however, expressed fears over what he called dangerous temper the state FA boss exhibits anytime things don’t go his way adding that if he could considerably checkmate it accordingly, he would make steady impact in the comatose game.

“Let me also posit that Ubah inherited good coaches wasting away in Awka, he would only send them for refresher courses at the Nigeria Institute of Sports, Lagos. So they will be further armed to fish out teeming talents in the state, as run-up towards establishing a state owned team. Once he does the needful, he would be remembered forever. He has the deep pocket to realise his dream which has been the battle cry of the fans in the state all these years,” he explained.

Odua, who is also the Financial Secretary of Association of Sports Veterans, Nigeria reminded him that the state has many smart administrators who are keenly watching and therefore appealed to him to ensure he constructs a befitting Football House where football matters would be discussed and far reaching decision on football development taken instead of the old order some chairmen held FA meetings in their country homes.

“Ubah can achieve a lot if he deems it fit because he has the money to execute and clear all the bottle necks that have held football hostage in the state. I bet you if he clinically implements at least some of these essentials, he would become the governor of the state in future by leaving lasting inscription,” he predicted. 

•Photo shows Prince Isidore Oduah.

Source Daily Sports

Posted July 7, 2016

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