The war of words between the chairman of the Owerri-based Iwuanyanwu Nationale FC, Chief Ignatius Okeahialam and his Enyimba International FC counterpart, Felix Anyansi Agwu over the release of Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama may not have come to an end despite the fragile peace brokered by some well meaning personalities for the good of the game in the South East.
Speaking to nigeriasports.com recently in Aba after his team defeated Sharks of Port-Harcout 2-0 in the week 8 of the Globacom Premier League, the Enyimba Sole Administrator, Felix Anyansi Agwu described his owerri-based counterpart as an ingrate who is not capable of managing a football club.
Reacting on the recent allegation that he wants to frustrate Iwuanyanwu Nationale by holding on to the clearance of Vincent Enyeama, Anyansi said that even with Vincent, the fortunes of the Owerri club can never change as the man in charge is never a good planner but only anxious to reap where he did not sow.
"I have never seen such an ingrate as chief Okeahialam. In our place, a young man does not abuse his elder, I am not abusing him but I think he is a very funny man. Because this is a man that came to my house with men of integrity that I respect to make peace with me",
"Immediately after the peace initiative he came out and said he wanted three of my players, Vincent Enyeama, Ozurumba Chibuzor and John Ofomba. Well, I jokingly asked him if that was the essence of the peace and we all laughed over it",
"Then in the morning he sent some of his officials to my office. They came, we negociated and agreed on Ozurumba #2million, Ofomba John #100,000 and Vincent Enyeama #500,000 on loan. It was a gentleman agreement",
"This man went back to bring money and when he came back, he brought the cheque of #2.1 millon which is for Ozurumba and Ofomba and when I asked him about Enyeama, he told me he was going to come in another few days and I am still waiting for him for the cheque of #500,000 for the loan",
"I mean in this country we give players on loan, we still do that. I don't know why he is so anxious to reap where he did not sow. He knows that there is a club waiting on Vincent. By June when the Transfer market opens Vincent will leave. He wants to come and take Vincent away, it is not possible. I explained it clearly, we cannot release Vincent except he wants him on loan",
"Well, I am using this opportunity to tell any club in this country that wants Vincent Enyeama to come and I will give him on loan to the tune of #500,000. If Iwuanyanwu doesn't want him, I will give him to another club. It is the right of a club to give its players out on loan. Vincent is still under contract with Enyimba till 2006. He should go and look at the papers he signed. He cannot deny it, he is our player. NFA rules on that are very clear",
"The fact that he travelled overseas and came back does not change the rules. When he was about to leave, he over celebrated his exit. We wished him well hoping that he gets a club but he didn't and he cannot play for us because we did not register him for the Champions League, he came far too late",
"So, all these blackmail by Okeahialam is a question of Cain and Abel. It is quite obvious that he is envious and jealous of our achievement. I wonder, his business flourishing. He is doing well in his private business but the club is not doing well. People should ask him why.What is he doing with the club. If he is tired to manage the club he should hand it over to another person",
"He shouldn't blame Enyimba or take his frustration on me or Enyimba. Enyimba is not the cause of Iwuanyanwu's problem. Even if we decides to give him Vincent, it cannot change his fortune. He never planned well, he is not a good planner. He is always sitting in Port Harcourt directing issues and we don't interfere.If he wants us to teach him football, we teach him football".
Enyimba blames no referee
Despite the sheer attempt to dicredit the center referee that handled the Enyimba vs Sharks week 8 encounter that ended 2-0 in favour of Enyimba in Aba, Bola Abidoye from Kaduna by the peoples Elephants fans who staged a protest against the officiating the sole administrator of the Aba based club, Felix Anyansi Agwu and its coach, Mr Okey Emordi described the officiating as a perfect one.
The female referee who was whisked out of the stadium by a black jeep car sent to the stadium by the governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu who probably may have sensed danger in the gathering of the crowd towards the officials changing room raining abuses on the referee was in firm control of the match as observed by Anyansi.
"As far as I am concerened, it was a perfect officiating. There is nothing unusuall about it. It is expected, this is a tension soaked match, the referee has to be in control.It is a perfect officiating. All we are saying is that let us eqaully get this kind of officiating outside our home",
"The Nigerian football is growing fans should not expect as usuall. There is nothing bad about today's officiating but all I want is let it go round".
Also speaking, the coach, Mr Emordi said the referee tried her best to give the match a good interpretation. " As far as I am concerned, she tried her best. Incidentaly she is a FIFA referee. So, whatever that went on here we have to take it that way. the most important thing is that we have the three maximum points.
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