Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim and 2014 CHAN eagles striker, Ifeanyi Ede headlined a crack squad of players unveiled by the hierarchy of Delta Force ahead Sunday’s first NPFL home clash against visiting Go Round FC, Omoku, at Stephen Keshi Stadium, after successfully completing the acquisition of newly promoted Kada City FC of Kaduna, Completesports.com reports.
Before penning a contract with the NPFL new comers, Agbim has had career spells at Al Merreikh Sudan (2004), NPA seasiders Warriors (2005), Enugu Rangers (2006-2009, 2013 and 2015), Warriors Wolves (2009-2012) and Gombe United (2014).
Agbim was called up to the Super Eagles camp in 2012 by now late coach Stephen Keshi and he went on to win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations with the team in South Africa.
The hugely experienced 34-year-old shot stopper with 14 caps made the Super Eagles cut for the 2013 FIFA confederation Cup in Brazil before returning to the Samba Nation in the Summer of 2014 for the FIFA World Cup finals.
After that, Agbim captained the home base Super Eagles to a bronze medal finish in Nigeria’s first Championship for African Nations, (CHAN) in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2014 under coach Stephen Keshi.
Similarly, Ifeanyi Ede’s illustrious career had spanned through Ocean Boys (2008), Enyimba (2010-2012), Rangers (2012) and Enyimba in 2013 through 2016 before a move to Tirana FC of Albania in 2016-2017) and later Al Nasr of Oman.
It is this huge experience that the pair will bring into Delta Force beginning with today’s NPFL matchday 12 clash against Go Round at Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.
With Asaba, the Delta State capital becoming the soccer destination of sorts for Nigeria, Agbim in a chat with completesports.com on the sidelines of Friday’s unveiling ceremony, said he was delighted to stage a return to the domestic top flight to relaunch his career for a possible return to the national team.
He also paid tribute to the hierarchy of Delta Force for providing him the platform, saying it is a new light at the d of the dark tunnel of his career.
“It’s always a moment of joy to bounce back to the game of one’s first love after a setback,” offers Agbim told Completesports.com in Asaba.
“It’s nice to get the chance and strength to rise up again after a fall and for this I say I’m grateful to God for showing me light at the dark end of the tunnel through Delta Force.
“Of course, I’m indebted to Delta Force. I can’t thank them enough for providing me the platform.
“For me, it’s a fresh challenge, it’s a new beginning and I know Delta Force have the potential and quality to do well and meet the objectives of the sponsors and people of the state.
“The players are young, talented and determined, they are full of ambition and capable enough to fight for the success of the team.
“It is this ambition I admire most because it matches my personal ambition of achieving success with any club I play for.
“Yes, as the first NPFL club in Asaba, I must confess that I’m proud to be a part of this history and prepared to give my best to drive home the success dream of the club.
“With what I’ve seen so far, I think we can make the state proud.
“The atmosphere here is good, the environment is conducive except the hot weather, but then we are all Africans and very used to it.
“The people here are very passionate about the game and the club. They are also receptive and accommodating. We can only reward them with good results, week in, week out.
“Of course, I’ve not lost sight of a possible return to the Super Eagles. That’s the main reason I’ve to work hard in order to get myself back into the Super Eagles”, Agbim stressed.
At the unveiling ceremony, Delta State Sports Commission Chairman, Chief Tonobok Okowa who was represented by Chief Victor Onogagamue, the Director General of the Sports Commission, assured the club of adequate funding by the state government.
Technical Adviser of the club, Coach Emmanuel Deutsch, a Cameroonian, said his target was to surpass his achievements in his previous tasks at Abia Warriors, Akwa United, Heartland and Calabar Rovers.
The Delta Force FC technical crew comprises Emmanuel Deutsch as technical adviser, Mbwas Mangut as chief coach and Haruna Wahab as goalkeepers trainer.
7 Comments
It is such a shame that Delta Force are allowed to buy their way into the NPFL halfway into the season.
Kada City gained promotion into the NPFL on the football pitch this season and Delta Force failed in their bid to gain promotion.
Delta Force then immediately started the process of forcefully taking over Kada City and their place in the NPFL and it has now been rubber stamped by the LMC. I would have had more respect for Delta Force and the NFF if they had invested in their squad and done the business on the pitch rather than with a bag of money.
This leaves a sour taste in the mouth
@BigD,could be that Kada is going into administration and couldn’t meet up with funding standards of a NPFL club and its slot had to be sold to another team.Im not sure though but looks very much like it.
Meanwhile,Agbim and Ede have gone into wilderness for a while now and surfaced suddenly.Beats my imagination where football has taken them all this while especially Agbim after the world cup in Brazil.
However,for this lads to still be playing football this long means they may not be playing with false age but for Agbims return to the super eagles at 34 well nothing is impossible but Im waiting to see how that happens.
I wish him well anyway.
@Greenturf, I read a report in February that said Kada City were fighting the take over bid and declared themselves “not for sale”.
Couldn’t locate it at short notice. But if they are going into administration, surely the punishment should be points deduction and certain relegation, with their running costs being carried by the NPFL not for anyone with money to buy their slot.
Thanks @BigD.If that’s the case it’s malicious thing to do to Kada by the league’s management.I bet they would feel hard done by.
To be candid,it’s the first time this is happening in football never heard of this anywhere it’s quite strange.
If that’s the case Kada should take the case to Fifa I would if I own Kada.
Is that really possible?
As much as I’m from Delta State I don’t like the manner at which pinnick is influencing our football by putting state interest over fairness.
See, all the “not for sale” you read was just a gimmick by Ekene Adams (Kwara stars owner) to take 1st take attention off him and also request more money from the Delta state govt. and since those ones are desperate.
I have journalists, who follows this matter as friends, Ekene Adams, keep denying been till the day of the take over. If ts possible to check his comments and whataveiw on this matter on social media, Facebook majorly, you could have read his denialnd rebuttal.
He even went ahead to threthen a journalist on this matter, that the club isn’t for sale, yet behind paperwork was already ongoing. If you guys can do a simple news research about Kada stars, as early enough, the coach that brougt them to NPFL resigned, same Media officers and few admin staffs. You just take your time to read the reason they resign and juxtapose it with my claim, you see a semblance.
The truth is Ekene Adams was NEVER pressured. He wanted this whole thing from the beginning. Sadly, he too was shielding it from his admin staffs, and was not even ready to negotiate theism into the Delta force teams.
If you read those reports, I’m sure in your conclusion, you won’t even be happy.
Nothing concerns Pinnic, NFF or even LMC on this matter. But if its with LMC, I’m sure there are proper documentation.
I know in coming days, weeks months, we will know the truth of the matter, and the role individuals and institution played in this matter.
The takeover has