Asaba City Football Club Gets Six-Member Board As Academy Plan Takes Shape
By NWAFOR AZINGE
THE proposed Asaba City Football Club has taken another step towards formal establishment with the inauguration of a six-member Board of Trustees.
The Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty Prof. Epiphany Azinge, SAN, OON, chairs the Board, while Ogbueshi Wing Commander Peter Iweze (rtd) serves as secretary.
Other members are Hon. Kennedy Okafor, Ogbueshi Engr. Tony Ndah, Mr. Emma Odiaka and Chief Obi Ubaka Attoh.
Club Structure Takes Shape
The inauguration provides a governance structure for the proposed football club and academy.
Ogbueshi Peter Iweze will serve as Club Chairman, while Patrick Marere has been designated Team Manager. Chinedu Attoh will serve as Assistant Team Manager.
Clifford Chukwuma has been appointed Head Coach, while Tony Pemu will serve as Club Secretary and Media Officer.
The position of Assistant Coach will be determined by the Head Coach.
Asagba Backs Football Project
Speaking at the inauguration, Prof. Azinge thanked the Asaba Sports Development Committee and the project consultant, Tony Pemu, for their work towards developing the requirements for the proposed club and academy.
The monarch acknowledged the challenges facing the community but described the football project as an initiative worthy of support.
He said the club could help strengthen Asaba’s identity, attract football clubs and visitors to the city and stimulate economic activity.
According to him, the project could also provide a productive platform for young people.
Youth Development & Talent Discovery
Azinge stressed that the proposed club should not be separated from the football academy.
He said the academy would provide a pathway for grooming young players who could eventually represent the club and potentially attract wider opportunities.
The monarch said youth engagement through football could also encourage young people to pursue productive activities.
He immediately approved the appointment of the Head Coach and directed attention towards securing the proposed start-up budget.
Take-Off Target Set for November
The consultant had proposed an October take-off for the club.
Azinge, however, said the project would not commence in October. Instead, he set November as the target for achieving the required funding and planning the formal unveiling of the club.
The proposed budget will cover player and coaching staff salaries, among other start-up expenses.
NLO 1 Proposed as Starting Point
Pemu said the proposed club should ideally begin in the Nigeria Nationwide League One (NLO 1).
He explained that the structure would give the team an opportunity to pursue promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League within the shortest possible period.
He also said the club would seek corporate sponsors as it progresses to reduce the pressure of funding on the founders.
Academy Central to the Vision
The proposed football academy remains an important component of the project.
The plan is to create a steady pathway through which young talents can be identified, trained and developed for the club.
The academy could also provide a platform for talented players to attract opportunities beyond Asaba.
For the proposed club, therefore, the immediate challenge extends beyond inauguration. Its long-term success will depend on sustainable financing, strong administration, quality coaching and a functioning youth development system.
With the Board of Trustees now in place, organisers have moved the project another step closer to turning the Asaba City Football Club proposal into a functioning football institution.
