Good day Ladies and Gentlemen,
So yesterday happened.
The Deputy Governor of Abia State, Engr Ikechukwu Emetu, and the Sports Commissioner rolled into town for what looked like a fact finding meeting with the Enyimba players. And while they were at it, they went ahead and unveiled Emmanuel Detchoua Gustave as the new coach, with Daniel Eke announced as the new Sporting Director.
I was in that meeting. I watched three senior players stand up and speak about welfare and living conditions so poor it would make an ordinary person emotional. I almost dropped a tear. Not kidding. And here is my honest take. I have had my issues with the coaches under this administration, but I am done blaming any coach for these results. You cannot send people to war on empty stomachs, with family pressure choking them, knowing that one bad tackle could end their career and the club will simply look away. That is not a template for success. That is a template for disaster, dressed in blue and white.
A lot has gone wrong at Enyimba. And what struck me was that the three players said the same thing in different ways. The Enyimba they signed for, the Enyimba they dreamed of playing for, they no longer recognise it. That one hit hard.
I also understand why the Deputy Governor had to step in. He promised to look into everything. Pay arrears. Settle what is owed. And after introducing the new coach and sporting director, he gave a simple instruction. Everybody should do their jobs. And no one else’s. Simple. Clear. The kind of clarity we have been begging for.
But even as I sat there, my brain would not shut up. Questions kept coming.
Why was the club chairman absent for a meeting this important
What happens to Deji Ayeni now
Can these new appointees work with the chairman without going at each other
And the big one, will we actually survive all of this
Questions. No answers yet. Time will talk.
What is clear now is what this rescue mission is really about. Forget trophies talk. Forget continental glory. The aim for this season is simple. Survive relegation. That is it. That is the target.
So for the love of Enyimba, here is my two cents. All hands must be on deck. No more backstabbing. No more silent wars. Because if we go down, there will be nothing left to fight over. Only memories and regrets.
And beyond this season, if we are lucky enough to still be in the top flight when the dust settles, then a full post mortem must happen. Total overhaul. Fresh start. Because what we have been doing is not working, and pretending otherwise is just lying to ourselves.
Enyimba Enyi.
