The management of Akwa United Football Club says in statement that it has watched in horror as a group of people calling themselves “Otta Farm” harass its officials, coaches, and players on a daily basis.
The latest incident they say occurred during the team’s training session recently when the coach was threatened, abused, and physically assaulted by these individuals for unknown reasons.
The Club’s management said the group allegedly resorted to attacking the coach after he refused to sign a player they presented to him, a report starwitness Newspaper is yet to confirm.
The statement reads ‘We have never known these individuals to be football agents or intermediaries, which would justify their demand, which resulted in violent behavior and threats to life;
The statement continued ‘The Professional Football League is played by professionals who have the talent and skills to deliver at the highest level, not by sentiment, religion, tribe, or race’.
The Akwa United management said the club strongly condemns such unprofessional agitation/demands by “Otta Farm,” and has issued the press release to officially warn the said group to stay away from the club’s activities in their own best interests.
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‘We want to state unequivocally that Akwa United is a professional football club with structures, management, and personnel in place to deliver on their core mandate without interference, a model that culminated in the club winning the league title last season.
‘As Akwa Ibom State’s footballing pride, we welcome support, encouragement, constructive criticism, and good suggestions from all relevant stakeholders to help us bring more glory and honor to our dear state, but not this type of unprofessional distraction, intimidation, harassment, and extortion from the group known as Otta Farm’.
They said they have filed a petition with the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, requesting that Otta Farm be barred from future Akwa United activities, including the vicinity of the clubhouse, training venues, social functions, and matches.
Starwitness Newspaper understands that the ‘ otta farm’ group has always been on the side of Akwa United, supporting them as fans and providing security for the team mostly at home matches as well as draw funding from the Akwa United.
An inside source says the group reacted to the early ouster of Akwa United from the Confederation of African Football League despite the state government’s high expenditure on them and the inability of the club’s management to ensure quality players were taken to Algeria the second leg of their match
The chairman of Akwa United, Elder Paul Bassey who spoke on phone with starwitness newspaper Correspondent said the club cannot condone such unruly attitude anymore hence the need to push them aside.
