MFON PATRICK
In keeping with the requirements of CAF and LMC on club licensing,
Akwa United Football Club has set up a five man committee to “…liaise
with the relevant authorities towards fulfilling all obligations as
demanded.”
While inaugurating the committee last Monday Chairman of the club
Elder Paul Bassey said.
“There is no doubt that we have one of the best stadiums in Africa
and the best in Nigeria by a mile, yet we will double check to make
sure we are set to go,” the Chairman said.
“The Nest of Champions in Uyo has ALL the MUST HAVE REQUIREMENTS of
CAF, yet I want you to double check and send in your report within a
week, he charged.
The committee has the Team Manager Mr. Emmanuel
Udoh as Chairman. Other members are the Club Secretary Mr. Omon
Bassey, the Welfare Officer Mr. Asuquo Samuel, and the Club
Psychologist Coach Ime Uko.
The team’s Media Manager Mr. Mfon Patrick will serve as Secretary.
In his acceptance speech, the chairman of the committee and team manager of the club Sir Emmanuel Udoh expressed appreciation to the club chairman for finding him and other members of the committee worthy for such task.
“On behalf of the committee members, I wish to sincerely thank the Chairman of Akwa United FC for this confidence repose on us to carry out this assignment. Sir, we are happy and blessed because we have someone like you who is an expert in club licensing having done it at CAF level, so, we will not hesitate to run to you if we encounter any difficulty in carrying out this task”.
In a recent interview on Channels Television Sports Minister Hon. Sunday Dare insisted that clubs must meet licensing regulations.
“Even if we must start the league with only eight clubs, that we
will do” he said.
Among other requirements, CAF insists, stadiums must have high
quality of pitch, grass or artificial. In case of artificial turf, it
must have a FIFA Field Certificate which cannot be older than 2 years.
- Floodlights of at least 1200 Lux.
- Teams and officials benches.
- International Standard and clean dressing rooms.
- Sanitary facilities for spectators.
- Stadium safety and fire certificate issued by local authorities
which cannot be older than 2 years.
Apart from media facilities, flag poles and referral hospitals around
the venue, each stadium is expected to have a control room which has
an overall view of the inside of the stadium and which must be
equipped with public address facilities and television surveillance
monitor screens.
