…Says Okowa Undervalued and Ruined The Club In 8 Years
By Lateef Adekola
The new Nigerian football season is into its second week of matches and soccer aficionados, fans, stakeholders are gradually getting back their grooves. Prior to the kick off, some many critical issues cropped up, including the status, nomenclature and composition of the Interim Management Committee. Those were eventually settled, albeit, temporarily.
However, critical stakeholders in Nigerian football are not resting on their oars to ensure Nigerian football is properly managed and that the inherent fortunes are equitably distributed.
In regards of the age long desires to get Nigerian football and particularly clubs, thrive according to best global practices, Harrison Jalla, former footballer, administrator and Chairman of PFAN Task Force, has come out once again with his blazing guns.
In his latest press release made available by his Media Adviser, Akeem Busari, the highly regarded football technocrat expressed his disappointment over the misfortunes of Warri Wolves and the apparent nonchallance of the Delta State Government towards the fortunes and growth of the club in the last 8 years.
He said, “Warri a cosmopolitan coastal city with a huge federal presence and a hub of multinational oil companies has a cultural identity and a symbol of unity in its traditional football, dating from the from the late 1950s. Warri Wolves football club has been an identity that bound the different ethnic Nationalities that made up the original Delta region together for several decades,” he recalled.
“Buoyed by the the presence of famous secondary schools like Hussey College and Urhobo college, Warri Wolves never lacked talents in its formative years in the 1950s, as Warri, was a breeding ground for natural talents in all sports, particularly football, in the old Midwest Region. Warri has paid its dues in feeding the entire gamut of all national teams with exceptional talents.”
Tracing the history of football in Warri and the Delta region, he recalled with fond nostalgia, the likes of Kaiser Blankson, Ebiyon Dediare, Morton Owolo, Mike Okotie, Jossy Dombraye, Gigi Dombraye, Thompson Usiyen, Francis Monidafe, Felix Agbonifo, Okwufuleze, Adikwe, Robinson Baba, Martins Bumeye, Sylvester Egborge, Raymond Quacopone, Ebenezer Badjer, Godwin Etemike, Paul Obire, Emmanuel Tetteh Okonkwo.
He continued, “George Ebhojor, Prince Afejuku, Sam Okpodu, Samson Ozogula, Sunny Kator, Clement Temile, John Omughelli, Mark Anunobi, Joshua kator, Mobosa Brodericks, Davidson Owumi, Austin Popo, Wilson Oruma, Ken Nkwomucha, Friday Oteri, Sabuke Benson, Victor Ikpeba, Edema Fuludu, Christian Obodo, Duke Udi, Collins Eselemo, Brown Ogbeifun, Godwin Obasuyi, Lawrence Akpokona, Mike Obiku, Darlington Omodiagbe, Sam Sodje and a host of others.”
“These array of ex-internationals is also laced with renowned administrators like Awoture Elaye, Dan Egbokodo, General Dominic Oneya, Chief Ogunfere and Harrison Jalla,” he stated.
He went on to express his displeasure on seemingly free fall of Warri Wolves, which he noted, started right from the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
“No quality administrators, coaches, and players were recruited. No attention was given to financial appropriation from the state House of Assembly. The crucial role the club was playing that bound ethnic nationalities within the Delta Region together was deliberately neglected. Sadly, Warri Wolves, died before our very eyes due to gross negligence.”
Jalla who is renowned for his fiery, but objective and resourceful contributions on national football matters, made an appeal to the new administration that might succeed Okowa’s government.
“Warri Wolves FC should henceforth be insulated from politics and be adequately funded to return it to the elite NPFL division where it rightly belongs. If six months after 29th May 2023, the new Delta State Government cannot adequately fund Warri Wolves in the league of clubs like Rangers International, Kano Pillars FC, Enyimba International FC and close neighbours, Rivers United and Akwa United, who are in the same category with Delta state in terms of allocation from the federation account, then the Delta State government should peacefully hand over Warri Wolves to concerned stakeholders.
“Winning the annual National Sports Festival, is no longer an achievement. Governor Ogbemudia has laid that foundation several decades ago in the old Midwest state. Football is now big business, the last 8 years of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration has been a disaster to Warri Wolves FC. No ambition, no motivation.
“Warri Wolves is more than a football club to the people of Warri and its environs. It is a cultural identity to one of the best cosmopolitan cities in the world, which has been deliberately deprived of all the amenities needed to make it a mega city by successive administrations at both federal and state levels,” Jalla concluded.
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