By Eche Amos

Amidst relegation battle, the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, Thursday, paid an unscheduled visit to the state-owned football club, Nasarawa United, during their training session in Lafia.

The Deputy Governor who was accompanied by the State’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Othman Bala Adam, and other top Government functionaries, told the players and officials that he had come to watch them play and pass across the message of his principal, Engr. Abdullahi Audu Sule, the Executive Governor.

“I am here on behalf of His Excellency, the Governor, and the good people of Nasarawa State to come and watch you.

“I wish to let you know that the Government is solidly behind you and we know that we have not given you the attention that you deserve all this while.

“Right now, your files are on top of the table and we are looking at it so that whatever it is with your welfare and other incentives that you deserve, within the next few weeks, the Government will take appropriate actions and you will be better for it.

“All we are interested in is your welfare and to see to it that Nasarawa United, hopefully, next year, play continental football. And whatever it will take for us to do that, the Government of Engr. A.A Sule is willing to do that as we are assuring you that we are on top of it and we are going to make everything possible to see to it that you are comfortable while you engage in your professional exercise”, he told Nasarawa United Media.

Dr. Akabe called on the players and officials to be dedicated to their professional task while assuring them that Government will not intervene on how they run the team.

“We now have a new management and we expect that this new management will carry us to the next level.

“All you need to do is to concentrate and do what you are supposed to do – play the ball, score the goals and win your matches, and you will be surprised at what the Government will do for you, as you are carrying the weight of not only the Government but the whole people of Nasarawa State; within the State and in the diaspora, they are watching you and are expecting nothing but the best.

“We are open to all kinds of advice and suggestions. We expect that you should be free in what you are doing and the Government of Engr. A.A Sule has vowed not to interfere in the day-to-day running of the club; we did not interfere in the players’ selection, we are not going to interfere in the day-to-day running of the club as we have left the Management and Coaching Staff to run the club.

“All we need is your cooperation with us, your management, and your coaches because we also had to sit yesterday to see if we can increase the number of your coaching crew which was why we requested that Coach Bala Nikyu returns to the Club”, he concluded.

In his response, Chairman, Nasarawa United FC, Barrister Isaac Danladi, expressed appreciation to the Deputy Governor for the visit, as he equally charged the players to apply the message of the Governor on the field.

“We want to appreciate Your Excellency for this important visit.

“We appreciate you for bringing us on board and only God will continue to guide and protect you people.

“Your Excellency, please extend our regards to the Governor and assure him that we are not going to disappoint him nor the State.

“Also, I urge all of us to make sure that we also deliver on the message of the Governor.

“No time for talking but time for action. We are in a precarious situation now, and we must forge ahead to bring the team out of the bad situation.

“We must make the best out of the worst situation”, he opined.

Speaking on behalf of the players, stand-in captain, Maiyaki Idriss, thanked the Deputy Governor for his visit and assured him of the players’ resolve to better their performance, beginning from the team’s next game against Enyimba International FC in Lafia.

“We appreciate your coming as this is your second time visiting us at our training.

“We thank you for your words of encouragement.

“Your presence here is already a morale booster to us.

“It is said that to whom much is given, much is expected. We are assuring you that our next match on Sunday against Enyimba will be won and subsequent games as well.”