Proprietor of Udala FC of Uke, High Chief Philip Udala says his club is poised towards giving a good account of themselves when the new season kicks off for the Nationwide League One (NLO) with the hope of staking a claim for a slot in the Nigerian National League (NNL) come next season.
Chief Udala made this disclosure during an interaction with sports writers in Awka on Thursday as his team returned to action with a competitive friendly match against FC Uncle Ralph played at Isuaniocha in the aftermath of the lifting of ban on football and other contact sports by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 on Monday.
The football administrator stated that his team have commenced preparations immediately for the upcoming football season as they will play in the National League, NLO as well as defend their title in the Anambra Independent Football League (AIFL). He said: ” Today we commenced preparations for the new season having received a letter of notification from the organizers of the NLO few days back that we should get ready for the league season, that is why we had to defile all odds even with the ongoing protest in ensuring that my boys get onto to pitch of play to test action for the first time in 7 months. We have started off with a win in our first game and in days and weeks to come we will be having more matches to get the team back in shape in anticipation of the new season,” Chief Udala stated.
On administration and team management, Udala opined: “We have procured a new coaster bus to aid conveyance of players and officials to match venues and in no distant time our new jerseys and other sports apparels will land. We have also engaged an expatriate coach in the person of Folabi Ojekunle, a former player of the defunct Nitel Football Club who before this time had managed Aquinas Football Club Belfast, Northern Ireland and also a scouting coach at Tottenham Hotspur London, United Kingdom,” He said.
Udala also stated that the management of his team will adhere to all regulations and procedures concerning players licensing, registration and new intakes to strengthen the current core of his team. He also disclosed that upon the return of his players to camp, he had ensured that the players and team officials were subjected to necessary medical and health fitness tests to be sure they are fit health wise and in good condition in anticipation of the new season.
