By Johnson Ihemekwele Lekwauwa
As an independent writer and a committed supporter of Enyimba FC, I have followed with deep concern the unnecessary noise, power tussle and distractions trailing our dear club in recent days.
Truth be told, some of these issues are self-inflicted, fueled by ego, personal ambition, and lack of respect for constituted authority.
Let me say this clearly: you may like Kanu Nwankwo or not, but he is a FIFA legend, and more importantly, he was appointed by the Governor of Abia State to oversee the affairs of Enyimba FC. That authority must be respected. We respected it during the Anyansi Agwu era, even as had a free hand to run the club. Why should it be different now?
Football has evolved. Even so called African superpowers are struggling.
Egypt with all their stars didn’t dominate the last AFCON, The hosts, Morocco stumbled in the final even with help (story for another day), and big clubs everywhere go through rebuilding phases of their players. Enyimba is not immune to that reality.
Under Kanu Nwankwo, the journey may not have been as smooth as many expected, but facts remain facts. In his first season, Enyimba finished third on the NPFL table while juggling domestic league duties and continental commitments. In his second season, Enyimba was Nigeria’s sole representative in the CAF Confederation Cup and finished third in their group, earning points that helped Nigeria’s CAF coefficient.
This same season, other Nigerian clubs crashed out of Africa without much noise. So why is Enyimba always the punching bag?
*Now to the crux of the matter;*
The recent drama surrounding appointments and counter-statements is both unfortunate and dangerous. Football clubs are not run by press releases and counter rebuttals driven by personal interest. In the NPFL framework, appointments such as Sporting Director fall squarely under the authority of the Club Chairman. Anything outside that process only creates confusion and embarrassment.
What worries me most is the reckless use of the Governor’s name. Is the office of the Governor now so cheap that anyone can invoke it to push personal agendas? If truly the Governor made an appointment, (don't get me wrong ooh) why not let it come from him officially. Dragging his name into internal club disputes is disrespectful and unnecessary.
If Mr Daniel Eke has supporters around him, they owe him sincere advice: slow down. Football administration requires patience, humility and structure. Nobody eats all the soup at once. There is room to grow without setting the house on fire.
And let’s ask the honest question many are afraid to ask: is Enyimba FC the only club in Abia State that needs capable personnel? We have sister clubs doing well, pushing for promotion and continental places. Why not deploy experience there? If indeed Mr Eke’s CV is as strong as advertised, Abia football as a whole should benefit, not just Enyimba.
On the issue of Uche Okechukwu “Gentle Giant” being named Sporting Director, this should not even be controversial. He is a respected name in Nigerian football, a former international, and someone who understands the corridors of power in the game, who would be readily accepted by NPFL. Rather than fight such appointments, younger administrators should see it as an opportunity to learn, collaborate and grow.
*Enough of the infighting.*
People are already predicting relegation for Enyimba, forgetting history. This same club has been in tight corners before and bounced back stronger. Mark my words, although i am not in the management, Enyimba will not be relegated. What the club needs now is support, stability and time to rebuild, not constant sabotage from within and outside.
You may not like Kanu Nwankwo, but if you truly love Enyimba FC, show it positively. Criticism is fine, but destruction is not. Not everyone can be in the management at the same time, and that should not translate into bitterness.
If you believe you have superior knowledge and can perform miracles, there are many clubs that need help. Go there and prove your point. Big clubs all over the world have off seasons, yet their fans stick together until the storm passes.
Biko nu, let us remove the monkey's hands from this soup before it spoils. Enyimba FC is bigger than individuals, bigger than ego, and bigger than today’s noise.
Let the management work. Let confusion stop. Let Enyimba rise again.