Following the passing of Senator (Dr.) Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, the Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA) has expressed its respects by mandating that all players in the ongoing Babatem/Anambra FA All Stars Football Competition wear black armbands.
Dr. Ubah, who passed away in London at the age of 52, was the former Chairman of ANSFA for four years and the owner of the defunct NPFL, later NNL side, FC Ifeanyi Ubah.
ANSFA has outlined its plan to pay further respect to its former Chairman during the remaining matches of the Babatem/Anambra State FA All Stars Tournament, which is currently in the group stage.
A statement from the FA by board member and head of the Media Committee, Mr. Ralph Chidozie George, said: “We will continue to mourn our late former Chairman, Senator Ubah. Players will wear black armbands during the remaining games of the Babatem All Stars Tournament.”
Chairman of ANSFA, Chief Chikelue Iloenyosi, aka ‘General,’ said: “Our thoughts are with his family. I have spoken to his wife and many stakeholders in our state, and everyone is in deep mourning. We will do everything to honor him.’
Chikelue, a former Super Eagles defender, added: “His family has promised to keep us updated on their plans for a befitting burial, and we will certainly play our part to honor a man who was one of the greatest philanthropists in football in our state.
“In addition to players wearing black armbands during the remaining matches, we have also agreed that a minute’s silence must be observed at the matches scheduled for this weekend,” ‘General’ Chikelue added.
Chairman of the Organising Committee and Vice Chairman of ANSFA, Chief Victor Aniekwena, aka ‘Ifeadigo,’ stated: “We can never honour him enough, given what he did for the game in our state.”
He added, “We will seek more ways to continue honoruing his name and football legacies, and we expect even the NLO, NPFL, and NFF to follow suit, as he touched all with his sponsorships.”
