Good morning,
It’s Saturday—the last market day of the week. A day traders in Aba hustle hard, hoping to secure just one more alert before the curtain falls on the week. And guess what? Like the typical Aba trader, we too got a sweet alert this week. I’m still torn between blasting P-Square’s Bank Alert or illBliss’ version—both slap, but the feeling is the same: ka-ching!
CAF has officially disbursed funds to clubs that reached the group stage of this season’s CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup. For teams like ours that didn’t progress beyond the groups, that’s a cool $400,000. If you’re converting that with today’s rates, you’re looking at over ₦600 million in one sweet swoop. That’s almost nine months of state government subvention—earned, not allocated.
But here’s where things get a little tricky.
Some rival fans call us “We Get Money FC”. It sounds like a compliment on paper, but it’s really a subtle jab at our spending priorities. And to be honest, it makes you wonder—what has all the money translated into?
There have been rumblings of half salaries, unpaid match bonuses, uninspiring estacodes from way back, and less-than-stellar player welfare, especially on away trips. But with this new alert, all that should be behind us, right? Money is a motivator. Not just for players, but for coaches and administrators too. A well-paid team is a well-performing team—at least, that’s how it’s supposed to work.
This is also why continental football is such a coveted prize. The NPFL might be prestigious, but it’s not exactly lucrative. Making it to CAF competitions is like hitting the financial jackpot. So, if CAF Champions League is out of reach this season, we better hustle hard for another CAF Confederation Cup slot. That money talks—and the echo is loud.
Now the million-naira question: Can we trust our Papilo-led management, with School Boy in the mix, to spend this windfall wisely? Can they convert hundreds of thousands of dollars into development—better facilities, happier players, cleaner stadiums, motivated staff, improved scouting and recruitment, and a return to genuine greatness?
There is a reason why the big wigs in African football have maintained relevance and dominance for such a long time. Almost the classic case of the rich being richer and the poor maintaining status quo. The choice is simple- Do you view this money as financial reward for yourself or an opportunity to reinvest in the team to ensure that next year, the squad is better positioned for another run in the Continent?
A lot of people are singing their praises already. We just want reasons to join the choir. And what better reason than visible progress and good news that makes us proud?
They say, “Happy staff make successful businesses,” and we say, “Good leaders put their people first.” May we spend responsibly. May this not be just another bank alert—but the start of something better.
Back tomorrow with a preview of our clash with Sunshine Stars in Ijebu Ode.
‘EnyimbaEnyi
