Nnewi United, a Nigeria National League, NNL side, has changed name to Edel Football Club Anambra, Sportgister.com.ng can report today.
The club has also relocated from Rojenny Stadium, Oba, near Onitsha, where it had been playing their home matches in the last four seasons to the Astro turf Awka City Stadium.
That’s not all. The club has re-engaged former coach, Benjamin Okaro, a former Rangers and Green Eagles capped midfielder in the capacity of Technical Adviser.
Okaro has already assumed duties as the team puts finishing touches to their preparation ahead the 2023 NNL season which gets underway on March 3.
Sportgister.com.ng checks reveal that all paper works as regard official change of ownership have been done with as Anambra FA is expected to endorse it any moment from now before transmitting same to NNL Secretariat, Abuja.It was further scooped that the new sponsor, Jude Edeh, who’s based in the Netherlands, had been bankrolling the club from silently since the last two seasons.
Edeh, a former student of Union Secondary School, Awknanaw, Enugu, won the 1988 Governor’s Cup with Nkanu LGA and was about signing a contract with Rangers before Euro deal beckoned.Edeh’s first club in Europe back then was Odra Opole in Poland before a brief spell at FC Forzheim of Germany.
After calling time on his playing career, Edeh relocated to the Netherlands where he serves as President of African All Stars (Association of ex African Players) in Amsterdam.
Olisa Onuchukwu, who equally played professional football with now German Bundesliga side, Bochum, is the General Manager of Edel FC.Onuchukwu, who was on ‘sabatical’ leave last season, hints of a lofty ambition for the club.
“Ultimately, we’re driven by the desire to cross the promotion rubbicorn this season”, starts the lanky club manager.
“Playing our way into the NPFL for next season our prime target.
“That’s why we went for an experienced coach, Ben Okaro, who knows the system and history of our club having been part of us before.
“Besides, our players recruitment has been top notch because we believe that with good players our task will be fairly well cut out”.
The club boss would also flash torchlight on reasons they quit their home ground, Rojenny Stadium, Oba, after spending close to five seasons there playing their home games.“First, we want to play on the astro turf pitch in Awka which will enhance the performance of our players.“
Again, we’re a privately owned club who are out for business. So, playing on a TV friendly pitch like the,Awka City Stadium, European clubs would fancy watching our players match video clips and this can fast track their getting clubs abroad to the financial benefit of our club.
Don’t forget too, that it’s important we play near the seat of power where (Anambra) government can see the team and possibly offer financial assistance”, Onuchukwu explained.
