Governor Umahi floats Salt City FC for Ebonyi

Gov. David Umahi  of Ebonyi has fulfilled his pledge of floating a football club for the state with the formation of the Salt City Football club of Abakaliki.

The State Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Charlse Akpuenika, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, describing the development as ‘heart-warming’.

Akpuenika said that the team would compete in the national league cadre of the 2021/22 football season and acquire the participatory slot from an existing club in the country.

“We have gotten the necessary endorsement to participate in the league from the relevant soccer authorities and would not inherit any liability from the acquisition process.

“Players to form the core of the team would be sourced from the grassroots to enable talented Ebonyi footballers display their talents nationally.

“The forthcoming King David Football Championship will be used to select such players as the ministry of youth development and sports had notified the local government and chieftaincy matters on the development.

“The competition will involve teams from the 64 LGA development centres of the state and selected players would be groomed to ensure we present a formidable team.

“We hope to quickly gain promotion to the higher cadre as efforts have been intensified to also float a female team for the state,” he said.

The commissioner also said that an interim management committee for the club had been formed which will be inaugurated on Aug.17.

He thanked the governor for fulfilling the pledge of floating the team which he made on several fora especially during the #END SARS youth summit in January.

Emmanuel Ukoh/NAN