Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi state has applauded the first major outing of the newly acquired state football team, Abakaliki Football Club, describing it as impressive.
The Club, also known as De Rice Boys, had a 2-2 draw against the Madiba FC of Lagos in the opening fixture of the 2024/25 Nigeria National League season.
The match was played on Saturday at the Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.
The Madiba boys narrowly escaped defeat as the home team displayed commendable effort, taking the lead twice.
It took extra efforts and substitution on the part of the Madiba FC to fight back with a draw, thereby denying De Rice Boys what could have been their historic first win in the league.
Addressing sports writers at the end of the match, Governor Nwifuru said the superlative performance of the Home Boys has raised hope and confidence that it would, with time, become one of the top teams to reckon with in the country.
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Nwifuru said: “I’m very grateful for the kind of disposition, the kind of love and the kind of support and strength envisioned in this field today.
“It gives me a lot of hope that if you give them a little more time, they will definitely thrive to be the best in this nation Nigeria.”
The Governor noted that his goal in acquiring the team was to employ it and other sporting avenues to unite the youths, promote the name of the state as well as reap economic and other benefits accruable from the present day football industry.
While commending some stakeholders for their invaluable advice which led to the birth of the club, Governor Nwifuru said the outcome has allayed his earlier doubts concerning a football team for the state.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Richard Idike and the Chairman of the Club, Senator Obinna Ogba in their separate reactions commended the team’s performance, stating that it has attained a high level of preparedness towards its upcoming match with Kwara United.
The Commissioner commended the Governor for giving the team all enablement to excel.
“Whatever the team need for the season, His Excellency has approved all,” he noted.
Acknowledging the team’s performance in the match, Ogba regretted the team’s missed opportunity for victory.
He said: “I feel good, and I feel sad at the same time that those people ran away with our points.
“But this is soccer. At times, it happens that way.
“Our team has shown its class, but then God of soccer had its way.”
Others who reacted, including the head coach of Abakaliki FC, Ifeanyi Onyeka and the team’s Assistant Captain, Joseph Omar, praised the Home Boys for their effort in spite of the short preparation period.
Onyeka said: “Our boys did their best.
“We’ve only been together for a little over a month, and I think this draw is a fair result.
“I didn’t expect them to start flying, but I know that in the next matches, we will be able to fly.
“We started very late, but I’m satisfied with the outcome; it could have been worse.”
Omar who expressed mixed feeling over the outcome of the match, added: “We’re not satisfied, but this is just the beginning.
“We’ll work harder to ensure a better performance in our next match.”
The match, which also served as an avenue to showcase the potential of the newly acquired team attracted enthusiastic spectators, fans and dignitaries, including Governor Francis Nwifuru.
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