Good morning, Guys!
Has anyone else noticed, or is it just me? This year has been moving quickly. We just entered May a few days ago, and it’s already the 6th. Not sure where the year is racing to. I hope your dreams and goals for the year are coming to fruition just as swiftly.
From an Enyimba perspective, it’s been relatively quiet—well, quiet on the pitch. There hasn’t been a football game since we went to Rangers and stunned ourselves. That win propelled us to third, with a realistic chance of securing the final Continental spot.
Off the pitch, however, there’s been a lot of activity. We tweeted that the players had boycotted training and were at odds with management over unpaid match bonuses. The information we received indicates they’ve only been paid two match bonuses all year, so they downed tools.
Swiftly, the club released photos shortly afterward of the players training, apparently to quell the controversy. This has been Kanu and Ekwueme’s style: the moment their actions are exposed, they rally their keyboard warriors to paint a different story.
Unfortunately, we can all see through their damage control. Are players being owed money? Yes. In fact, Kanu reportedly told anyone unwilling to comply to pack their bags and leave. What level of greed would lead someone to pocket salaries owed to their staff, especially when the State Government promptly released the funds?
I feel sorry for Alex Otti. His party represents hope for the average Nigerian, yet his appointments at the club risk damaging his political legacy. He can claim “change and transparency,” but the mess at Enyimba tells a different story.
Owing players match bonuses isn’t new, nor is threatening players and their careers. It was commonplace during the previous club administration. Does that make it right? No, it doesn’t. Governor Otti preaches change and transparency—should a public entity like Enyimba be acting otherwise?
When Enyimba’s story is told, what will you be remembered for? Chief Anyansi had his shortcomings—many of them—but his name remains tied to Enyimba’s success. The current management, however, seems to care only for themselves, showing no interest in building or elevating the club to the next level.
That next level is where the real money lies. Look at the big names in African football who compete year after year. See how much they earn annually from CAF competitions. In other words, if you build this club diligently, you’re in for significant financial rewards.
Yet this shortsightedness has management fighting over crumbs when the club—and by extension, they—could gain so much more. Perhaps a foreign investor should buy Enyimba, bringing a professional, business-minded approach.
Something for Governor Otti to think about.
Back tomorrow,
‘EnyimbaEnyi
