By Aderonke Ojo
Chidi Okonkwo, Chairman, City FC of Abuja, a newly promoted Nigeria National League (NNL) side, says he will focus on building a mini stadium for the club in Abuja, to boost its fortunes.
Okonkwo said this in an interview on Monday after a friendly match between City FC and Nasarawa United, a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side. The encounter which took place at the Area 3 football pitch in Abuja, ended 1-1.
He said that building a mini stadium in Abuja for City FC was essential for the team’s growth and success as it competes in the second tier of the league.
“Football is not magic; you just have to take your time and plan yourself well.
“My main focus for City FC now is to have a mini stadium, and I am sure that by two to three years, we will achieve that by God’s grace.”
Okonkwo cited example with Remo Stars FC stadium, nothing that the owner invested in world-class facilities, and had enabled them to compete at the highest level.
He also highlighted the financial challenges faced by City FC, noting that the club relies on its own resources to operate, emphasising the importance of careful planning and strategic player transfers to generate funds for the club’s development.
The club chairman added that the encounter with Nasarawa United served as a good test for both teams, but most importantly used by City FC to gauge their readiness for the upcoming season.
“Football is all about money, and if you don’t have money, you can’t do anything.
“As a private-owned club, we have to plan ourselves well and make sure that every year, we transfer some players to generate funds to push the club ahead.
“We wanted to see how ready we are, and from what I see, we still have a lot to do before the starts of the new season,” he said.
He emphasised that City FC’s promotion to the NNL was a step in the right direction, noting that they were working to build a strong foundation before thinking about getting promotion to the Premier League.