The shortlisting of the Godswill Akpabio international stadium – The Nest of Champions – as one of the thirteen venues to host matches in the upcoming Nigeria Professional Football League season has attracted encomium from the chairman of Akwa United FC Elder Paul Bassey who congratulated the Akwa Ibom State Government for paying proper attention to the maintenance of the facility to meet international standards.
Elder Bassey while reacting to the League Management Company’s approval of the Nest of Champions as a befitting venue for NPFL matches, praised the 2017 Governor of the Year Deacon Udom Emmanuel for investing in sports development in the state.
“We at Akwa United and Akwa Ibom State, in general, are indeed very excited that our home ground, the Nest of Champions has been approved as one of the venues with all the facilities suitable to host league matches in the up coming season.
“The Nest of Champions is Unarguably the best stadium in Nigeria by all standards. when we were inspecting the iconic stadium in line with the Club Licensing requirements, we were never in doubt and what this approval means is that football fans and supporters will not be deprived of the opportunity of watching and enjoying good football in one of the best stadiums in Africa.
“We wish to appreciate the effort of our sports-loving governor deacon Udom Emmanuel for ensuring we lack nothing. We also extend our appreciation to the Honourable Commissioner for Youths and Sports Sir Monday Ebong Uko and to all our fans and supporters for the wonderful support we have enjoyed in the past season. We call for even greater support in the upcoming season as we hope to go for the NPFL crown this season” said Elder Bassey.
The club boss while addressing the team, charged the players to take advantage of playing in one of the best stadiums in the world to prove their worth by bringing more glory and honor to the state by winning the 2020/2021 NPFL title.
Following the lifting of the ban on contact sports by the National Centre for Disease Control NCDC which was occasioned by the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic in March, Akwa United have resumed full training session in preparation for the commencement of the new NPFL season scheduled to kick-off either on 22 or 29 November 2020.
BY MFON PATRICK
