The Association of Football Club Owners in Anambra have inaugurated a 15-member body, Anambra Football Patriots Board (AFPB), to superintend the management of the game in the state.
The board is to ensure effective running of football pending the resolution of the crisis in the state’s Football Association (FA).
The club owners and stakeholders said on Monday in Awka that the constitution of the board was to ensure the conduct of proper elections into FA for the game’s development.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olisa Aniuno is the Chairman of the AFPB, while Odi Ikpeazu and Uzor Epundu would serve as the first and second Vice-Chairmen respectively.
Other members include Olisa Onuchukwu of Nnewi United, Arthur Ebunam, an ex-international, Mike Mbaezue of Jimbaz FC, Paul Obiakor of Smith City and Ezenwata Nnama.
Inaugurating the board on Sunday, the former Vice-Chairman of NFA’s Disciplinary Committee, Ikechukwu Igbokwe, had said that all matters pertaining to club football in Anambra would be handled by AFPB for now.
Igbokwe, who will serve as the Secretary to the board, said that they would carry out the mandate until proper elections were conducted into the FA.
“For the election impasse in the FA not to destroy football in Anambra, the club owners and stakeholders decided to constitute this board to manage football pending the resolution of the crisis.
“This is to inform the public that football activities have resumed in Anambra and any person or group of persons parading themselves as Anambra FA board members are not known to us,’’ he said.
Aniuno said he was overwhelmed with the trust the stakeholders in Anambra football had in his ideas and ability to chart a new course for the game.
The Football Across Anambra project sponsor said his immediate task was to ensure that there was a clear direction and mobilisation of men and materials for effective football development.
Also, the chairman of the Media Committee of AFPB, Onuchukwu, said the board’s constitution came as a big relief to genuine lovers of football.
Onuchukwu said that it was gladdening that football could go on while the crisis in the FA awaited resolution.
NAN reports that the group had rejected the process that threw up the Ifeanyi Ubah-led FA, saying it was flawed.
The FA elections which was publicised to have held on May 4 took place on May 3 with the absence of most candidates and delegates. (NAN)