By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
Akwa Ibom born Business Icon, Akan Udofia has pledged to give $20,000 to Akwa Utd FC if they beat Algerian Champions, CR Belouizdad in the CAF Champions League second leg preliminary round match in Algiers this weekend.
Udofia, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Desicon Engineering Limited, made the promise on Thursday in Uyo, while redeeming a pledge of N5million to the club for scoring five goals in their last NPFL match against MFM FC of Lagos last month.
He had promised to give the team one million for each goal scored against MFM FC in the game played at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium which the home side won 5-2.
He commended the team’s effort last season which saw them emerged champions of the NPFL for the first time in the team’s 25 years history, adding that the team deserves every support and encouragement to do more.
“I am proud of Akwa United, much more proud to be an Akwa Ibomite. I have been following your activities online and when I saw that Akwa United needed a win or draw in their last home match of the season to win the league I decided to come up with cash incentive to encourage and motivate the boys.
“Your achievement epitomized the can-do spirit of an Akwa Ibom person. You have made the state proud and that’s why I identified with you, to show my little support and to encourage you to do more.” The Philanthropist said.
He also congratulated the team for winning their first CAF Champions League match, presented another N1million to the team while members of his AK-Prosperity Team donated N2.2million to the team.
To encourage the team ahead of their trip to Algeria Udofia also promised to give the team $20,000 if they beat CR Belouizdad in Algiers on Sunday September 19.
“If you go to Algeria and win, as you will be coming back, twenty thousand dollars will be waiting for you courtesy of me and my team, the prosperity group,” he announced.
Responding on behalf of the Club, the Chairman, Paul Bassey expressed gratitude to Akan Udofia for his kind gesture and thanked him for identifying with the team, appealing to other well-meaning Akwa Ibomites to support the effort of the state government to make the team succeed.
It would be recalled that in 2017, Udofia offered the Super Eagles $20,000 for every goal scored in a FIFA World Cup qualifying cracker against Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions in Yaounde.
The match ended 1-1 and the money promised was given to the team.
