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By Our Correspondent

Fans of former Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL champions, Akwa United will from next season pay gate fee to watch their team, club chairman, has announced.

Chairman of the club, Paul Bassey disclosed this while interacting with Akwa Ibom State football stakeholders in Uyo on Thursday last week at the Godswill Akpabio International stadium, Uyo.

Although Mr Bassey did not state how.much fans are to be charged over game, he however hinted that the gate fee will be affordable for fans.

The Akwa United chairman who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports Matters told the gathering that a wider consultation has been made before taking the decision.

“The money made from the ticketing would go a long way to augmenting the expenses of the club as things have become expensive,” he said.

He called for sponsorships from individuals and corporate organisations to drive the team properly for optimal success.

Elder Bassey who was recently inaugurated as the Vice Chairman, Interim Management Committee for the NPFL noted that Akwa United as a brand has brought honour to the state in recent times.

He appreciated the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria SWAN for the publicity in the last five years.

Describing the last season as one of the worst for Akwa United and the Nigerian football, Mr Bassey however praised God that Akwa United and Dakkada FC did not go on relegation and assured that Akwa United will perform optimally in next football season as the management has put measures on ground to achieve the goal.

The Head Coach of the club, Ayodeji Ayeni on his part said since his arrival, he has enjoyed the support of the media and intimated that preparations ahead of the 2022/2023 football season had started long ago from the simple to the complex.

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He argued that although one cannot use pre season matches to judge the season, the coach said so far seventy percent success has been recorded.

The Chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria SWAN, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, Mr Emmanuel Akpan hailed the club for partnership with 1XBET, Sports Writers in Akwa Ibom and carrying SWAN members along during last season.

Mr Akpan assured the management of Akwa United of continued cooperation and support.

The SWAN chairman also supported the plans to collect ticket fees from fans as according to him, the practice is obtained in other clubs across the country.

Some of the sports writers at the meeting hailed Akwa United for placing premium on the welfare of the players and for furnishing the media on the plans of the club ahead of the next season.