Fans of former Nigerian league champions Enyimba who have aspired to have the team back in its spiritual home by the end of the about-to-end league season may have to wait a little longer, says the contractor handling works on the site.
Ebi Egbe, CEO of Monimichelle Sports Facility Constructions Ltd told www.aclsports.com that except owners of the stadium, the Abia State government do their part of the deal, their fans’ hopes will turn a mirage.
“If I have to be very honest with you, I can’t protect anybody right now because my reputation is on the line. That’s what people don’t seem to understand.”
“State governments and governors have to understand that I am a FIFA Match Agent, (and) I have to keep my name clean.”
“I started the Enyimba project in 2015 when they just qualified for the Champions League and the whole plan was for Enyimba to play their first Champions League game at their Aba fortress.”
“Enyimba project had serious drainage issues. We solved all those issues and got our sub-base ready in less than two months. We’re still waiting for our import based elements till today. I’m disappointed,” a visibly upset Egbe lamented.
With the arrival of materials from Europe last month, Bayelsa-born Egbe affirmed that the relationship between him and Enyimba at the moment is good but cautioned that the presence of materials at the stadium is not a big deal.
“The romance is good at the moment. But to be honest with you, for Enyimba to come back home to play next season, (chuckles) it’s a husband and wife relationship. I’m the man, the woman has to perform too, if she doesn’t perform, we can’t make babies,” he said figuratively.
“I’m just waiting for them to do their thing. I’m always ready to get their job completed but you must have my money in the bank because I have bills to pay. It’s simple.”
“You must understand that my materials have no expiry dates, I can keep those materials at site for 10 years, that’s why you’re paying money for it. It’s pricey because it’s the best in the world.”
Talking of the price, the project is estimated to cost Abia State government in excess of hundreds of millions of naira. When asked why his works are seemingly expensive, Ebi also gave another illustration.
“The pitch industry is like the car industry. You have a choice!”
“If you want to drive a beetle, you pay N10m, if you want to drive a Rolls Royce, you pay N300m. It’s the same principle. We are the Rolls Royce and Bugatti of synthetic grass because we’re 95% grass,” boasted Egbe.
Enyimba will end the 2016/17 season on Saturday when they host Katsina United at their home ground this season, the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar. A win for the People’s Elephant will give them a CAF Confederation Cup ticket for next season.
