Seasoned coach Imama Amapakabo has returned to his Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side Abia Warriors as head coach, www.aclsports.com reports.
Amapakabo, 54, left Abia Warriors two years ago after a two-season stint with the Umuahia based club. The former Nigerian junior international has now returned to the side which was humbled in the President Federation Cup final by El-Kanemi Warriors last month.
Amapakabo spent last season as head coach at modest Rwandan side Etoile de l’Est after the team’s dramatic relegation to the second division on the final day of the season.
The former Rangers International coach has now signed a two-year deal with an option to extend by a further year in Umuahia. He signed on the dotted lines in the presence of Abia Warriors Sporting Director Emeka Ifejiagwa.
We are excited to welcome back Imama Amapakabo on a two-year deal as the new coach
— Abia Warriors FC (@AbiaWarriors) July 10, 2024
Show the Gaffer some love and get ready for an amazing journey together again
#WelcomeBackImama #Warriors
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In an interview on Magic FM, Aba monitored in Port Harcourt on Wednesday evening, Amapakabo expressed his excitement at working with the current management of Abia Warriors.
“I am thankful that I have people like Chief John Obuh (club chairman) and Emeka Ifejiagwa that understand what football is all about. It’s a comfortable contract for all of us and we resolve to work together for it to move Abia Warriors forward,” said Amapakabo.
One of the immediate tasks before Imama Amapakabo will be convincing some of the club’s key players whose contracts will be up by the end of this month. A number of such players already have offers they are studying from other clubs both home and abroad.
Abia Warriors finished twelfth on the league log at the end of the 2023/2024 season and missed a chance to play on the continent for the first time in their history after that loss in the Cup final in Lagos.
