MORE REACTIONS AS NPFL GRANTS ABIA WORRIORS PROVISIONAL APPROVAL TO PLAY AT HOME

REPORTER: PEACE AGBO

The Management of Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia has pledged to live up to the expectation of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) to enable them host home matches in Umuahia Township Stadium.

Chairman of the club, John Obuh, made the pledge before journalists while reacting to the recent provisional approval letter signed by the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, granting the club the right to play their home games at the Umuahia Township Stadium after earlier ban.

Obuh thanked the NPFL for the temporal approval till the next league season and expressed the hope of putting in place the general facilities at the stadium before the next season.

The Abia Warriors Chairman also thanked Governor Alex Otti for the provision of all that was needed to ensure that the stadium met the desired standard.

He expressed regret that the ban destabilized their players but full of joy that the players would be playing on natural turf, which would save the boys from injuries.

Contributing, the Interim Coach of the Club and former Super Eagles player, Bethel Orji, commended the NPFL for the Provisional Approval for the club to play in their natural turf at home.

For his part, the Captain of Abia Warriors, Augustine Njoku, applauded the management of the Club for securing such Provisional Approval.

He noted they were more comfortable training and playing on natural turf, notwithstanding they came out victorious in their recent match against Kano Pillars while playing on Astroturf.

Njoku appealed to the Abia State Government and the management of the team to ensure a permanent approval from the NPFL to enable them to enjoy their natural turf in the Umuahia Township Stadium.

Radio Nigeria observed Abia Warrior Players in a serious training session at the stadium ahead of their Sunday home match against Lobi Stars of Makurdi.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU