Abia Football Club Owners Embrace State SuperligAbia Football Club Owners Embrace State Superlig The vice-chairman of the Aba Football Club Owners Association, Chijioke Kalu Ukpai, has announced the association’s support for the newly introduced Abia State Superlig. Economic and Sporting Benefits Ukpai praised the Superlig concept, describing it as a significant development with positive economic and sporting benefits for Abia State and its football clubs. He emphasized its potential to enhance the state’s revenue, create business opportunities, and provide a platform for talent development. Collaboration with Private Clubs To fully capitalize on the Superlig’s benefits, the club owners are considering a merger process involving over 50 private football clubs in Aba. Ukpai expressed excitement about the opportunities the Superlig offers for the owners and players in the region. Paradigm Shift Ukpai highlighted the transformative nature of the Superlig, marking a departure from traditional football management approaches. He expressed optimism about its potential to revolutionize the governance and development of football in Aba and beyond. Talent Showcase and Rehabilitation The vice-chairman emphasized the Superlig’s role in showcasing talented players outside the Nigerian professional league. Live broadcasts of the matches will provide exposure and opportunities for hidden talents to secure contracts and pursue professional careers. Factory for Football Talent Ukpai emphasized Aba’s role as a hub for football talent and the need for an enabling environment to distribute these players to the world. He expressed confidence that the Abia Superlig would serve as a platform for rehabilitation and development for private clubs in the region. Conclusion The Abia Football Club Owners Association has fully embraced the Abia State Superlig, recognizing its potential to revitalize football in the state and provide economic and sporting opportunities for its stakeholders. The association is committed to collaborating with the organizers and other clubs to make the Superlig a success.
By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Vice Chairman of the umbrella body of the owners of Aba Football Club, Mr Chijioke Kalu Ukpai, has assured that members will join the newly introduced Abia State Superlig.
He described the concept as a real watershed, one that offers a very positive outlook for both the economy of Abia and the clubs in the state.
According to The Source, the Abia State Ministry of Sports and Youth Development in collaboration with Alliance 51, an organization that deals with commercial and entertainment management, unveiled the state’s new Superlig on July 3, 2024.
The State Commissioner for Sports, Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba, said the new football league was designed to add value to existing sports infrastructure, increase the state’s internally generated revenue, grow GDP through a cluster of businesses and provide a veritable platform for talents and stakeholders in the football world to earn a decent living.
The Superlig, Ananaba noted, is based on a 9-team format, with three clubs from each of the three senatorial zones of Abia State.
Speaking to the media after a crucial meeting with Alliance 51 Chief Executive Officer and League Management Committee LMC senior member, Dike Dinmiri, in Aba, on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, the club owners’ vice chairman noted that the programme represents a paradigm shift from what club owners know.
Hon Ukpai said a merger process is being considered with over 50 private football clubs in Aba so that they can take maximum advantage of the new opportunities that arise.
“When the idea was sold to us (football club owners) we were initially lost. But after extensive discussions with key operators I can confidently say that we have received a great development.
“We have never seen anything like this before in the annals of football management and development. We are particularly excited about the huge economic prospect which in turn will have a positive impact on all stakeholders in the chain.
“We thank God that the owners of private football clubs in Aba will today see a spectacular change in the governance of the sport in this important city.
“It is a huge paradigm shift from what we are used to. The Superlig will be transformative, both economically and in the hunt for talent and development.
“We have a lot of serious clubs that are surplus to requirements, good players that are unknown, with zero opportunities to show the world,” said Hon Ukpai.
He further stressed that the Abia Superlig offers a rare opportunity for Nigerian talents outside the Nigerian professional league to showcase themselves, sign contracts and play professional football anywhere in the world.
He noted that the live broadcasts of the Superlig will serve as a rehabilitation therapy for hidden talents and private clubs in Aba and the entire Abia State.
“We have the factories for football talents here in Aba and what remains is the enabling environment to distribute the products of the factories to the entire country and the world at large. The biggest opportunity has been presented by the introduction of the Abia Supelig and we will grab it with both hands,” the vice-chairman of the Aba club owners promised.
