FC IFEANYIUBAH INT'L STADIUM: A PERFECT GROUND FOR CHAN QUALIFIERS

By - Al Barney

Anambra State as the Light of the Nation, long before now been lacked the right motivation for sporting development at elite and grassroots level. Prior to the institution of FCIfeanyiUbah by Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, most sports lovers football fantasies, was watching tv highlights or follow updates online or on dailies.

The state had a little known clubs with limited ambitions until a bigger brand which is the Anambra Warriors took over and revolutionized the game by bringing back our fans to status quo (The Stadium). It takes a passion and enthusiasm to institute such massive structure in a year, within a two and a half years of top flight football, achieved accolades that some older clubs wished for on their cabinet. In that short period of time, Nnewi and Anambra have had more visitors than ever before, the revolution have taken the City and State to a forefront in Nigeria's Sports industry as well as the Global map.

A quick outline why the FC IfeanyiUbah International Stadium, Nnewi-Ozubulu remains a perfect destination for the CHAN 2018 qualifiers of the Home Based Super Eagles are detailed below.

A trip to the Ifeanyi Ubah Games Village Nnewi-Ozubulu is a journey to an over $300 million dollar upon completion project, a reference point in all sphere and passion driven. The FC IfeanyiUbah International Stadium is one massive edifice that visitors and tourist buzz in and out on daily or weekly bases to either to see a game on Matchdays or catch a glimpse of the colourful environment. This ground have hosted alot high class events and they all ended hitch free. From the successful tour of Ifeanyi Ubah Games Village by Rtd. Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, to the hosting of the West Ham Delegation led by the Managing Director Angus Kienaar, then distinguished personalities who came during CAF Confederation Cup game against Al Masry SC of Egypt, The Successful hosting of the Greek Ambassador to Nigeria, not forgetting the Anambra Youth Fiesta held in December 2016. Prior to the CAF Confederation Cup game between FC IfeanyiUbah vs Al Masry SC of Egypt, Officials of Nigeria Football Federation and Confederation of African Football on separate inspections approved the stadium outrightly, scoring it high and fit to host any game organized by both football body. 

It would be candid to encourage one of the biggest investors of Sports and Sporting Development in Sub Saharan Africa by approving a passionate request of hosting the Home Based Super Eagles at the up coming CHAN 2018 qualifiers.

At the CAF Confederation Cup encounter between FC IfeanyiUbah and Al Masry SC, the tickets was sold out, fans from every part of the sphere came to watch the continental game of high expectations. Some branches of the club's community namely; FC IfeanyiUbah Fans United Kingdom, FC IfeanyiUbah Fans Angola and FC IfeanyiUbah Fans China sent members from their respective country of abode to join the massive fan base that formed a fully charged electrified atmosphere at the Fotress that historic day. Every matchday is like another very busy day, activities buzzing round the stadium as fans queue up to secure tickets then make for the stands, its always a date keep for many, owing to the enthusiasm and energy of the atmosphere. 

The Nnewi and Anambra fans always rally round their team and would be forever grateful if a National team graces FC IfeanyiUbah International Stadium, CHAN 2018 Qualifiers presents such an opportunity.

Anambra State is amongst states with the best road network, from the other two major cities in the state to Nnewi (The Industrial Capital) are 25 minutes and 40 minutes for Onitsha (The Commercial Capital) and Awka (Administrative Capital). This further butress the fact that in terms of connectivity, irrespective of the part of the state one decides stay, accessing the facility within a short period and on good roads which is paramount. 

Visitors coming into the state for their first time via air, can decide airport to use pending on convenience. Coming from Owerri Airport its about 55 minutes, 50 minutes from Asaba Airport and about One hour and Thirty minutes from Enugu airport. 

Quality Road network remains one positive factor which determines the venue that plays host to matches of such class and calibre, its a plus for FC IfeanyiUbah International Stadium Nnewi-Ozubulu.

In the tourism industry, Nnewi and environs provides different stars of treatment pending on the guest's choice. 

Nnewi town inhabits world class hotels namely; Nnewi Hotel and Event Center, Swiss Park Hotel and Suites, Convaj Hotel, Chunique Hotel, Hotel De Robin, Twin Tower Hotel, at Oba a town barely 15 minutes drive from Nnewi is Nellys New Town Hotel which was the camp of  the Egyptian Envoy during this season's Confederation Cup tie. 

Awka and Onitsha plays a host to over Fifty home away from home that can comfortably accommodate any individual or people from all works of life. Nnewi and Anambra wants to showcase the untapped tourism potentials rooted in the state, people on first visits will relinquish such opportunities in future. Nnewi and Anambra are ready to take up the challenge by successfully hosting a hitch free CHAN 2018 Qualifiers.

Football Made in Anambra is a grassroots sports developmental initiative, its one project that aims to bring out the best potentials in the state and transform them into next generation Super Stars. However one of the biggest tool used in sports development is mentorship motivation, every mentored gets excited and inspired seeing a mentor perform same known act. Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah ofcourse loves to see the mentored being duly mentored, his drive to invest in youths and promote football in Nigeria and Africa should also key factor. CHAN 2018 qualifiers hosted in Nnewi  presents a perfect opportunity for the football consciousness of the state to multiply effects.

The world class state of the art radio station (Authority 104.1FM) inside the games village would be a hub of various sports journalists during this period. Pre, During and Post match analysis and reportage, remains the high points of listeners who eager for first hand information. The radio as a media tool remains a medium of propagating Nigerian Football to the world.

However anyone may see it, #Nnewi4CHAN is not a pipe dream but a workable and a working dream that will translate into a date with history.