Enyimba FC defender Ikouwem Utin has told www.aclsports.com he is “very excited” by the prospect of playing his first ever game for the club at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba on Wednesday.
Ikouwem who grew through the ranks at the club and has been a regular feature in this season’s CAF Confederation Cup campaign is expected to be on the Enyimba teamsheet when they face Group C leaders, CARA Brazzaville – in what will be the first official game at the renovated stadium – on Wednesday evening.
“I am so excited for us to be back home,” began Utin to www.aclsports.com
“I want to thank the State government for bringing us back home with the completion of the Stadium.”
Enyimba have not played in their Aba base since November 8, 2015 when they drew 0-0 with Warri Wolves in their penultimate league game as they wrapped up their seventh league title.
Since then, the People’s Elephant have trodden upon other venues in a vain search for comfort as their home ground underwent a lengthier-than-expected refurbishment. From Umuahia to Port Harcourt, to Calabar, the team’s scattered home ground was matched with sometimes tattered results on the pitch. Ikouwem hopes that will stop now.
“I believe our return will help us tomorrow (Wednesday) to win and win well against CARA.
“We will make sure that we make Enyimba fans and the country proud and we believe that playing at our real home will serve as another opportunity for us to attack and express ourselves more in our homeground,” added the Nigerian Under-20 captain.
Congolese side Club Athletique Renaissance Aiglons (CARA) are top of Enyimba’s Group C with nine points, same as the Nigerians. However, with Ivorian side Williamsville AC at home to the group’s whipping boys, Djoliba same time on Wednesday, Enyimba need maximum points to be sure of progress. Williamsville are third on seven points with a healthy goal difference but a win against the Malians will see them progress.
Match officials for the Enyimba/CARA game which is billed to start at 5pm West African Time are already in the Eastern Nigerian city of Aba for Wednesday’s game. They are led by Souleiman Ahmed Djama from Djibouti.
