No faction in football supporters club says Ikpea, pledges to develop sports

AGENE GODWIN, Benin

The President of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Rev Samuel Ikpea has disclosed that the body has no faction as speculated in some quarters.

Rev Ikpea who made the disclosure Wednesday while speaking with Sports journalists in Benin City, said the club’s election held in Lagos on December 10, 2016 was rancour free and that the new executives have already mapped out plans to take the association to the next level.

He said those who are tagging themselves a faction of the supporters club are nothing but those who have been suspended as a result of their corrupt activities against the body.

Ikpea added that his executive is making plans to revamp all state chapters and make them functional as part of his cardinal agenda, noting that letters have been sent out in that regard.

Rev Ikpea further stated that the body is working with the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF on actualisation of their set goals and noted that though the club is being faced with some challenges as a result of the economic recession, “We are confident that we will overcome them.”

He said they are meeting with sports faithfuls across the country to ensure that the club is financially sound.

According to him, “I want to state it clear to you all that The Nigeria Supporters Club doesn’t have a faction. In every organisation there are rules and when one breaks the rule he is punished. Those that are calling themselves faction are no faction but they are decadents of the club that have been suspended for one activity or another.

“Part of my programme as president will be to make sure that members travel with the players at a very low or free fare. We have set up a committee to move around the states, meet governors and other sports enthusiasts; we are going to achieve a lot.

“Since we came on board we have not had a secretariat. Part of our plan is to see how to erect our building that would be a befitting one for the club. We will create the channel on how to be members of the supporters club.

“We are not just going to be supporting but we are going to see how to develop sports in all the states and local government areas in the country and I know by the special grace of God we will not fail.”