The Present Determines the Future

Good day, my fellow lovers of the People’s Elephant. I pray August brings good tidings to each and every one of us.

Now that the Super Falcons have finally secured their first win at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, let’s leave the knockout-round permutations until the final group game and turn our attention back to Enyimba.

A few days ago, while scrolling through social media, I came across pictures posted by the club showing members of the management addressing Enyimba’s youth team after training at the Enyimba Stadium.

At first, I was genuinely pleased.

It was refreshing to see the Young Elephants receiving attention and encouragement from Kanu Nwankwo, a man whose football career speaks for itself. Investing in young players is something every serious football club should do.

Then I opened the comment section.

One comment from a Sporting Lagos supporter immediately caught my attention:

“Be like say na Academy players Enyimba wan use play NPFL this season. That wouldn’t be bad to see oo.”

It wasn’t a compliment.

It was sarcasm.

The comment wasn’t praising Enyimba’s youth project; it was mocking the club’s silence and inactivity in the transfer market. That is where we’ve found ourselves. Fans have been complaining for weeks, and now even rival supporters have noticed that something doesn’t feel right.

Building for the Future

Youth development has always been one of football’s greatest investments.

The biggest clubs in the world don’t just buy talent—they produce it. Academies strengthen the first team, preserve a club’s identity and, when managed properly, generate millions through player sales.

In Nigeria, youth football has changed countless lives. It gives talented youngsters an opportunity to represent their communities, support their families and dream of bigger stages.

Enyimba’s academy should be celebrated. Every young player wearing the club’s badge deserves encouragement, and the club deserves credit for showing commitment to developing the next generation.

But there is a problem.

A club cannot keep talking about tomorrow while today’s house is on fire.

The First Team Cannot Be an Afterthought

It is wonderful to showcase a thriving youth structure, but not while the first team continues to drift without direction.

This off-season has been dominated by unnecessary controversies. We’ve watched the club clash with first-team players, point fingers at respected club icons without presenting convincing evidence, and remain largely silent on issues supporters genuinely care about.

After last season’s defensive struggles, fans expected reinforcement in defence and midfield. Instead, there has been very little communication and even less clarity.

Supporters now depend on transfer rumours, blurry training photos and social media speculation just to figure out who has signed for the club. That should never be the case at a club of Enyimba’s stature.

To make matters worse, the club’s media machinery recently celebrated the departure of alleged “saboteurs” and “freeloaders,” presenting it as the beginning of a rebuild. But after clearing the old house, where are the new tenants? A rebuild isn’t complete because people leave; it is complete when capable replacements arrive.

Then comes the issue that should concern every Enyimba supporter more than anything else—player welfare.

Match bonuses reportedly remain unpaid. Players have allegedly sought financial assistance from outsiders for medical treatment. Others have exited the club with little or no explanation to supporters.

These are not rumours that strengthen a football club’s reputation.

They are warning signs.

The Present Determines the Future

No academy, no matter how talented, can compensate for a dysfunctional first team.

Young players need a stable environment to grow into. They need experienced teammates to learn from, competent coaching, proper welfare and an organised football club waiting for them when they make the step up.

Without that foundation, even the brightest talents will struggle.

Enyimba absolutely should continue investing in youth football.

But the club must stop behaving as though the future can fix the mistakes of the present.

If this rebuild is to mean anything, it cannot exist only in speeches, social media posts or academy photographs. It must be visible in recruitment, communication, player welfare and the day-to-day running of the first team.

Because you cannot build tomorrow while neglecting today.

EnyimbaEnyi.