Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia will on Sunday return to Umuahia to play their home matches in the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, against Lobi Stars of Makurdi.
This is coming a few days after the NPFL granted provisional approval for Umuahia township stadium, the home base of Abia Warriors, to host matches.
A letter from NPFL signed by Davidson Owummi, the Chief Operating Officer, gave the team the provisional approval to play in front of their home fans in Umuahia after the team was banished from Umuahia in January over the poor conditions of the stadium.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of Abia Warriors, John Obuh thanked the NPFL for lifting the ban and also commended Governor Alex Otti’s administration for its efforts in return of Abia Warriors to Umuahia.
The Club Chairman regretted that playing away from Umuahia and also on astroturf, affected the morale and performance of his team, adding that playing on natural grass in Umuahia would now protect his players from a spate of injuries.
Also speaking, the Captain of Abia Warriors Augustine Njoku, said his team was grateful to the NPFL and Abia State government for their return to Umuahia but pleaded with all concerned authorities to ensure that permanent approval is given to his team before the start of the next season.
In a telephone interview with Arogidigba Global Journal, the Secretary of Abia Warriors, Francis Nwaubani confirmed that players had commenced training inside the stadium, in preparation for their Sunday home cracker against Lobi Stars of Makurdi.
Arogidigba Global Journal gathered that the provisional approval from the NPFL would enable Abia Warriors to continue their home matches in Umuahia for this current season while periodic inspections would be carried out by the NPFL.
It was also gathered that having been satisfied by the improvement in the condition of the field, the NPFL directed that the stadium undergo more structural improvements before final approval could be issued.