By Ndifreke P. Akpan
Governor
Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has identified unity and teamwork as
key ingredients to the victory of Akwa United Football Club in the
maiden edition of the Aiteo Cup competition.
Governor
Emmanuel who was fielding questions from Government House Reporters
shortly on arrival at the Ibom International Airport, said the team
succeeded because they were united as a team and the entire Akwa Ibom
people united in support for the team.
“We
keep saying this, we should be united as a people; yesterday we were
there, playing as a team. Everybody knew Akwa United of Akwa Ibom,
nothing like political party, nothing like ethnic groups, or political
blocs, and this is where success comes in.”
A
visibly elated Governor Emmanuel commended Akwa Ibom people for
eschewing partisanship and ethnic sentiments and uniting to support the
state football team to national glory, maintaining that the victory was
God’s answer to their prayers.
Recounting
his visit to the dressing room of the team few minutes before the
encounter, the Governor said as a sportsman and a motivational leader,
he had to boost their psychology to yield positive impact on their
performance.
He
said it was an opportunity to raise their spirit, remind them that they
have done it before and could do it again, and to let them know that as
their father, he had arrived so early to cheer them up.
While
commending the team for maintaining discipline in line with his charge
on them, he blamed the artificial turf for the lackluster performance of
the team and added that he will take the initiative of creating an
additional artificial turf for the team.
“I
must come back and create two turf for them, the natural turf that we
have done so well and the artificial turf so that they can practice
regularly".
“That
was not my team. They play much better, free flowing football, ball
control, they do much better than what we saw yesterday. They must have
been practically affected by the artificial turf so we will do something
about it as soon as possible.”
On
whether he was apprehensive at all in the course of the match, he said
it was usual for a father to be worried if the son failed to bring
desired result.
He
said having watched the team several times and enjoyed their free
flowing and interesting games, it was really worrisome to see them in
that kind of display.
“One
thing was sure, I knew we were going to carry the day because success
is what we went for and we got the successful story back,” he concluded.
Ndifreke P. Akpan
(Aksg House Press Uyo)
(Aksg House Press Uyo)
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