AKWA UNITED F.C. UYO
Akwa United F.C was founded by the then Military Administrator of Akwa Ibom State, Navy Captain Joseph Adeusi in December, 1996 with an inaugural /friendly match against the famous Rangers International F.C of Enugu, at Uyo Township Stadium, Uyo. The team featured such big stars as Etim Esin, Friday Ekpo, Louis Udoh, Uwem Ekarika and Joseph Eberefe, who later became the pioneer Captain of the team. The Government of Akwa Ibom State swiftly bought over the slot of the defunct NITEL (Vasco Da Gama) F.C of Enugu when its management announced the disbandment of the club late November, 1996.
At the inception of the club, a management committee headed by Obong Sunny Uko was constituted by the then sole-administrator of AKS Sports Council, Coach Christo Davies. Other members of the Committee included Hon. Isong, Gabriel Akpan, John Morris, and the late Mr. Etim Abang who served as the Secretary.
The team, tutored by Benard Ogbe performed creditably well in its first season in the Nigerian professional league and was placed 4 th on the league table comprising of 16 teams at the end of 1997 football season.
In 1998, the leadership of the team was changed and late Navy Commander Ofaru was appointed the Chairman of the club. A New Technical Adviser , Henry Nwosu (Mon) was appointed to handle the technical/coaching affairs of the team. The club stunned Soccer fans and the entire nation at the close of 1998 league season by finishing 2 nd on the league table, but the promotion ticket was denied the team and later given to the defunct Udoji Utd F.C, Enugu
In 1999, Coach Christo Davies assumed leadership of the team as the General Manager of the Club. The club performance fell below standard during the season, attracting negative reactions from club supporters, thus necessitating the visit of the then Deputy Governor, Obong Chris Ekpenyong to the club. Government subsequently announced dissolution of the team.
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The club was re-constituted in January, 2000 and was supervised by the State Sports Council which was attached to the Deputy Governor’s Office .Coach Anietie Ukpa took over headship of the coaching crew and led the team to a comfortable position on the league table in the 2000/2001 football Season.
Due to improper management of club affairs by the Sports Council during the 2001/2002 league season, the club was relegated to the Amateur National League.
The 2002/2003 season saw the revitalization of the club with the appointment of a new helmsman, Hon. Isong Isang, the then Chairman of Finance and Appropriation Committee in the State House of Assembly. Isang resigned to usher in Dr. Chris Ekong as the Chairman of the club.
On assumption of office as the Chairman of the club, Dr. Chris Ekong in 2003 re-employed Coach Henry Nwosu to lead the Coaching Crew mid-way into the 2003 league Season. The leadership qualities of Dr. Chris Ekong changed the fortunes of the club for good as the club that was at the brink of relegation was able to stay a float at the end of the 2003 league season.
In 2003/2004 Pro-league Season Coach Emmanuel Moses King was appointed the Technical Adviser/Chief Coach of the team. He performed creditably, leading the club to second position on the league table. This would have qualified the team to feature in the premier league in the 2004/2005 league season but protests filed in by Gateway United F.C, Abeokuta and Ebony Angels F.C Abakiliki, in respect to ineligibility of Akwa Utd F.C players fielded in the two matches, robbed the club of six(6) league points, making it impossible for the team to gain promotion.
August 5, 2006 has some sort of historic significance in football history in Akwa Ibom State and indeed Nigeria. The event was the last professional League duel between Akwa United FC and Calabar Rovers FC of Cross River state. The match in question was very decisive and a tonic Akwa United FC needed. It was like a sick patient in need of respiratory functional organs to get resuscitation. Oron township stadium was filled to its capacity by people from all works of life, to give support to a team inching forward to greatness. However, the hordes of Akwa United supporters were not disappointed. The unprecedented set in. Akwa United pummeled its opponent’s plethora 13 goals to clinch the sole promotion ticket of Pro League Div.1 Group D ahead big spenders like Bussdor, Gateway and Sunshine who were struggling to be garlanded as the kings of Group D.
The result of the encounter made rounds across the length and breadth of Nigeria. Dusts were raised and questions asked. How could that be? But it had happened. The match became controversial. A panel of inquiry was set up by Nigeria Football Association for alleged match fixing. A lot of intrigues, interest and internal politicking assumed greater dimensions. But the club chairman Dr. Chris Ekong remained unruffled and resolutely followed the politics gradually, with some version of proofs and similar occurrences with Germany as a reference point in Euro 2008 qualifiers against its opponents on same goals margin.
The evidences before the panel caused the NFA to sit back and absolve that, there is every possibility for a team to score 13 goals in a match. Apparently not satisfied with the verdict of the NFA, Chief Oscar Igbokwe. Chairman of Bussdor FC, declared war against the football ruling body and went ahead to court. The court action however sent Bussdor to amateur division.
On October 16, 2006, Akwa United FC got their promotion letter Premiership The club Chairman Dr. Ekong was held in high esteem for keeping to his words “I will take Akwa United FC to premiership before my tenure elapses”.
November 17, 2006, Dr. Ekong made public presentation of the team to the sports public in a ceremony chaired by a renowned sports Journalist Paul Bassey at Uyo Stadium.The event witnessed presentation of branded jerseys to the players. Meanwhile, the Uyo Township Stadium has been renamed AKWA UNITED STADIUM by the Motorcyclist union and football fans.
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