Mr Samuel Umoh, at the weekend, won the Football Association Chairman of Akwa Ibom State after defeating his only rival Mr Emmanuel Brown at the Nest of Champions, Uyo.
Mr Umoh, a former Akwa United goalkeeper and Nigeria representative in the Beijing World University Games, scored 25 votes while Mr Brown had 12 votes.
The newly elected FA boss assured that his victory is for everyone and called on his opponent to join him in taking the Akwa Ibom football game to new heights. Mr Umoh also promised to hit the ground running with a priority on grassroots football development in Akwa Ibom State, saying, “Having been through all the ranks in football, grassroots football will be our priority because that is the bedrock of football development anywhere in the world.
“Secondly, we will try to make Akwa Ibom football very viable when it comes to marketability. Football has become commercial we have to key in and reap the rewards for Akwa Ibom State.”
The 37 delegates who participated in the election also voted eight members on the FA board while the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) representatives witnessed the process. Among the officials who observed the process include, Mr Otumbadele Ajayi, Barr. Joshua Onoja and Director of Sports, Mrs Bridget Otton, who represented the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports, Sir Monday Uko.
