NPL ELECTION: Enugu SWAN Endorses Owumi

Ahead of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) elections in Abuja, the Enugu State chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has thrown its full weight behind the candidature of Davidson Owumi for the chairmanship position.

Owumi, who is the incumbent chairman of Club Owners in the country, is vying the chairman of chairmen position with Abdulaziz Mohammed from Kaduna State after which he hopes to be elected as the chairman of the seven-man board.

Enugu SWAN gave Owumi, a former Enugu Rangers’ player and chief executive officer (CEO), the nod on Sunday in Enugu during an interactive session between sportswriters and the Delta State-born football administrator.

Pronouncing the endorsement during the interaction, the association’s vice chairman and head of sports, FRCN Enugu national station, Andrew Nnebedum, said the decision was informed by the track record and pedigree of Owumi in the round leather sports as a player and manager.

According to Enugu SWAN: “Though, we are not into partisan politics but as stakeholders in the promotion of football in the country, we believe in professionalism and experience, adding that from every indication, Owumi has all it takes to take the nation’s football (league)to the next level.”

The association, however, appealed to all the contestants in the race not to see the election as a do-or-die affair, insisting that only people with credibility and experience should be given the opportunity to pilot the affairs of the nation’s football.

In his remarks, Owumi declared that his aim of seeking the position of the chairmanship was to take the nation’s Premier League to the next level, saying he has gathered enough experience to deliver the goods if given the opportunity to serve.

His words: “I have seen it all in football, I have played and managed the game and again, we want to bring professionalism to bear in the nation’s Premier League. Our vision is also to make the Nigeria Premier League attractive to all football lovers with a view to attracting private sponsorship to the league.”

According to Owumi, “Anybody that wants to be the helmsman of the Nigeria Premier League must have the necessary wherewithal to manage the game for you to even bring out yourself to be elected into that exalted office. If you are contesting for that position you must know that those contesting for the position are professionals like yourself.”

By Chidi Okonkwo in Enugu