Harmony Boys begin training at Mobolaji Johnson Arena

Most top personalities in Ebonyi State are expected in Lagos, on Saturday, where they are expected to cheer and support Abakaliki Football Club as they seek to make history as the first team from the state to win the President Federation Cup, formerly known as the Challenge cup.

Giant killers, Abakaliki FC, a lower division league side (the Nigerian National League), against pundits’ prediction, defeated Katsina United, Enyimba FC of Aba, Nasarawa United and Ikorodu City to reach the final of the oldest competition in the country for the first time.

To ensure that the team completes the journey triumphantly, the managers of the club have mobilised top Ebonyi State indigenes to lend their voice to the cause on Saturday, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.

Ebonyi State Sports Commissioner, Richard Idike, told The Guardian, yesterday, that the club’s management was still exploring chances of Governor Francis Nwifuru availability to lead the support for the boys.

He said: “Governor Nwifuru will be in Benin for an official assignment this weekend and since Benin is not too far from Lagos, we are trying to see if he can squeeze out some time from his busy schedule to join us in Lagos. But all our people, big and small, will be in Lagos to witness history on Saturday.”

The Guardian learnt that managers of the club took the team to church on Sunday to seek divine intervention before they left for Lagos on Monday. Their opponents, Kwara United, arrived in Lagos on Friday to acclimitise and get ready for what will also be their first President Federation Cup victory if they win the game on Saturday.. The Harmony Boys held their first training session at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena yesterday to get used to the pitch.