George Anazoba, Chief Coach of Mgbo Ambassadors FC of Ohaukwu, Ebonyi, one of the state’s representatives in the Federation Cup, has decried the lack of support from the government.

Anazoba said that as a result of this, the club had not been able to raise the statutory N100,000 processing fee to file a petition before the Nigeria Football Association (NFA).

He told newsmen in Abakaliki that the club could not pay the fee for the petition against Ekabokom FC of Cross River over the inconclusive match played in Makurdi on May 23.

The coach said that the team, owned by a school teacher, tried their best to raise the money but could not as none of those approached came to their rescue.

“We approached several private individuals and the state government, but we could not get any form of assistance and the match was eventually awarded to Ekabokom, who were better prepared.

“The most painful aspect of the issue was that the state government could not assist us and could not even redeem its pledge of N50,000 to the team when we emerged runners-up at the state’s Federation Cup competition,” he said.

Anazoba stated that the players were devastated on hearing that the match had been awarded to Ekabokom, considering the amount of sacrifice they put into the deadlocked match.

“The referee incurred the wrath of spectators when he disallowed two of our goals and awarded a dubious penalty to our opponents with two minutes left in regulation time.

“Our first choice keeper nearly lost his life as a result of a collision with an opposing attacker and had to be rushed to the hospital unconscious, though he was later revived,” he said.

Godwin Eze, the proprietor of the club, lamented that the poor attention given to football had affected the fortunes of amateur clubs in the state.

“We embarked on our trip to Makurdi to prosecute the match with my salary and contributions from members of the team,” he said.

Reacting to the development, Desmond Ome, the Secretary, Ebonyi Football Association, described the situation as regrettable.

“We do not receive any form of subvention from the state government unlike what is obtainable in other states, so no FA member went to Makurdi for the match because of lack of funds,” he said.

Chief Nicodemus Omenka, the immediate past Ebonyi Commissioner for Youths and Sports, said that he did not receive any request for assistance from the club while in office.