FC Ifeanyi Ubah rejig African Football

Having successfully run business across different sectors including Oil and Gas, Maritime, Transportation, Telecommunications, Construction and Real Estate, Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah's decision to invest in football was met with widespread joy as massive investments were expected to hit Nigerian football.

FC Ifeanyi Ubah came into being from the acquisition of Gabros International FC by Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah in 2015 after the club secured promotion to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). 

After two seasons in the NPFL, the Anambra Warriors won the first ever major trophy in the history of Anambra State football as they defeated Nasarawa United on penalties to clinch the historic 2016 Federation Cup in Lagos. They add more honours in January, as the Anambra Warriors defeated the NPFL champions Rangers International on penalties and emerged the 2016 Super Cup champions in Abuja.

THE FANS BASE:

The success of the Federation Cup and a place in the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup has witness the fans base of the Anambra Warriors currently over 101,561 in the Eastern part of Nigeria. The fans base is getting bigger and better with fans across the Nation and the global audience are expressing keen interest in the team. FC Ifeanyi Ubah have got a chance to place the club name in the golden book of African football if they can dominate and upset the big clubs in the CAF Confederation Cup as debutant.

THE GAMES VILLAGE:

@SupportTheNPFL.com visited Nnewi, Anambra State last weekend and paid a courtesy stadium tour to view the ongoing project at the Ifeanyi Ubah International Stadium, by extension the Games Village. The project is one of such in Africa and a big investment into the Nigerian football. FC Ifeanyi Ubah became the first NPFL club side to own a stadium. The Ifeanyi Ubah Games Village is a multi billion naira sports and industrial city project that seeks to nurture and empower the people of Anambra State and Nigeria by extension.

Club President, Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah said to @SupportTheNPFL.com during the stadium tour on Sunday; "We have read history about private clubs collapsing and unable to sustain the club sponsorship. When we came into the business, we did our research and we understood football is a big business but to earn back the investment you need to create an elite structure and commercialise the brands.

"The reason why most of the private clubs in the 80's and 90's collapsed was the fact that none of the clubs developed a structure which can see the club after five years of investment sustain the projects. The Games Village is the biggest in Nigeria and one of the biggest structure in Africa."

FACILITIES IN THE GAMES VILLAGE;

- Two football stadia with multiple training pitches.
- Industrial Park
- Hospital
- Sports Academy
- Technology Hub
- 5-Star Hotel
- Conference Centre
- Women and Youth Development Centre
- Indoor Sports Hall
- Shopping Malls
- Residential Housing/Estates
- Corporate office complex
- Linguistic School
- Police Post
- Fire service station 
- Other facilities/basic amenities

HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP

On August 2016, FC Ifeanyi Ubah reached an agreement with West Ham United as the Anambra Warriors became the London club's first commercial partners in Africa.

The deal was brokered through Capital Oil and Gas, the principal investor of FC Ifeanyi Ubah. The Anambra Warriors concluded a deal to be named "THE OFFICIAL PARTNER OF WEST HAM UNITED". This historic deal is first of its kind in Africa and FC Ifeanyi Ubah is poised to become the Premier football club in Africa and force to be reckoned with in sports globally. 

SupportTheNPFL.com chats with the Club President, Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah inside the magnificent Ifeanyi Ubah International Stadium. 

THE TOP FIVE QUESTIONS WITH DR. PATRICK IFEANYI UBAH

SupportTheNPPFL: Did you think FC Ifeanyi Ubah can replicate last season achievements?

Ubah: I think we have got the right team spirit, the players and coaches are aware of the target. We have to play more competitions and matches this season. We are prepared for all the season would offer us, I am hopeful. We have our target to surpass last season achievements. 

SupportTheNPFL: How is the team looking forward to the debut season in the continent?

Ubah: It is our debut season and we are excited to play in the continent and to compete with the best teams across the continent. A journey of million miles starts with a step, we have no fear. We will take the game as they comes our way. First hurdle is the game against Al-Masry, we play at home first and we hope  to kick start the competition with a big win. 

SupportTheNPFL: What makes the FC Ifeanyi Ubah International Stadium special?

Ubah: It is a big project and we have a lot facilities and structure around the stadium. Hotel, shopping malls, movie theatre, training pitches, facilities for academy. We also have a radio station and many structure around the stadium. It is a taste model, first of its kind in Africa. It is a stadium that has a lot of commercial activities, friends and family would have reason to visit the Games Village everyday. The reason why most of our sports facilities in Nigeria has dacayed, Abuja and Lagos national stadium as example. No commercial activities around the stadium to engage the fans on a daily basis, we are proud of what we have done so far and we hope to speed up the construction. 

SupportTheNPFL: What is the dreams behind FC Ifeanyi Ubah?

Ubah: It is all about the people of Anambra and the global audience. It is all about making impact and add value to the country economy. To drive our economy through the football business. 

SupportTheNPFL: Are you not scared of competing in the CAF Confederation Cup as debutant?

Ubah: For us it is a platform we have been dreaming about and we are excited our hard  work yield positive achievements. We will give it our best, I am optimistic the team will challenge for the title. We just have to believe and take inspiration from the teams like TP Mazembe, and even our own Enyimba International. We are going for the ultimate, we want to rule Africa and position the club name in the minds of the global market and expose our structure and brands.