All the teams in the group A matches of the 2022 Tico/Select Preseason Tournament have been moved to Enugu following renovation work at the Adaba Stadium, Asaba, NewsPathfinder.com reports.
The cancellation was necessitated by renovation work at the magnificent edifice which will host the 2022 National Sports Festival billed to get underway next,month, November.
Executive Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Ifeanyi Okowa, on Thursday inspected the pace of work at the stadium and directed that all forms of sporting activities including football should be discontinued at the stadium in order to quicken the pace of work.
This meant that the Tico/Select Preseason Tournament group A matches billed to start on Friday were put on hold.
Ifeanyi Ekwueme, a former Nigeria international and Director of the tournament, was in Asaba Friday and directed all the teams that were to play in Asaba to move to Enugu.
This means that Enugu has now become the only center for the 14-team Preseason Tournament.
Seeing the development as ‘Force Maseur’, Ekwueme issued a statement wherein he apologised to the affected teams and the fans.
“We sincerely apologise to all the teams that are in group A who are supposed to play their group matches and who have now been moved to Enugu”, the statement Ekwueme personally signed reads in part.
“This development is as a result of the rehabilitation work embarked upon by Delta State government at the stadium in view of the National Sports Festival coming,up next month.
“We sincerely apologise and plead with the teams and fans to see the development as in the interest of sporting reasons.
“All the teams consequently directed to move to Enugu where group B matches are currently going,on”.
Rivers United, Abia Warriors, Nnewi United, Ingas and Apex Krane FC are amongst group A teams that were earlier slated to battle in Asaba but have now been moved to Enugu.
