Akwa Ibom State Governor Deacon Udom Emmanuel has splashed a whooping seventy Million Naira (70,000,000.00) on Akwa United Football club as a reward for winning the 2017 Aiteo (Federation) Cup competition.
Governor Emmanuel announced the state’s appreciation to the team Wednesday night during the official reception and dinner organized in honour of the team at the Banquet Hall of Government House in Uyo.
Akwa United won their second major trophy (Federation Cup) after beating Niger Tornadoes of Minna 3-2 on penalties following a goalless draw in regulation time last October at the Agege stadium in Lagos.
The Governor congratulated the team for making the state proud and promised that his administration will continue to place a high premium on Sports development in the state.
The State Chief Executive charged the Promise Keepers to step up their game by returning to continental football where they can compete against the best clubs in the continent. Governor Emmanuel noted that revenue generated in the sports sector around the world is for all talented sportsmen and women to benefit from it. He, therefore, called on Akwa United to ensure they tap from the huge revenue that sports generate globally.
When Akwa United first won the Federation Cup in 2015 after beating Lobi Stars in Lagos, they were handsomely rewarded by Governor Udom Emmanuel who challenged them to go for more glory and the Promise Keepers have now lifted the national trophy twice in three years.