The Igbo League that produced the likes of the Atuegbu brothers, James Obiora, Sunday Mba, Obinna Nsofor, Chinedu Efugh, Benedict Akwuegbu, John Obi Mikel, among others, which was dead for almost twenty years due to disagreements in ownership and leadership was brought back to live and now will work as one united body.
This was made possible by the Chairman of Plateau State Football Association, Hon. Dr. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande. Hon. Kwande, who stood his ground that the Igbo League will cease to take place on the Plateau if the two factions involving one Afor Umeh on one hand, who claimed to have been the originator of the league in the 1980s and one Tony Ejim, a former referee, who believes that the league shouldn’t be privately run and owned, and hence, came up with his own league body.
After months of heated battle and disagreements, both parties have finally come together of which Hon. Kwande had to force the leadership of the Igbo community involvement for legality and proper recognition to avoid any impasse in the future.
Appreciating the PFA Chairman for his fatherly intervention, the President General Igbo Community Organization Plateau State, Chief Okunomke Mike: “I’m very happy that the Chairman of the PFA, Honourable Suleiman Kwande has thrown his weight behind the tournament and by bringing peace and unity into the football fold. We too we will go back to our community and also tell our big men to throw their weight behind the tournament. So am very happy this tournament is back; because part of my promise before I became the President is that the Igbo League will return and be held. But it was delayed because of the disagreement between Alphonsus and the Igbo Community. But everything is settled now and the Igbo League will return to its annual state it used to be.”
On his own part, the PFA Chairman, Hon. Dr. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande commended the leadership of the Igbo Community for responding when called upon to bring peace into the football family. According to him: “My mandate as the Chairman of this great body, is to use this tool called football to bring unity, progress and peace to this dear State of ours.”
It’s agreed in the meeting that all teams that registered from both sides of now united Alphonsus Umeh and Tony Ejim will now come together in a now renewed Plateau State Igbo League.
The draws will come up next week.
