Tag: Ebi Egbe

One of the five  awardees of the just concluded maiden Newstap/ SWAN Five Star Sports Award,  Chief Ebi Egbe (Monimichelle) has dedicated the award he received Friday night to the National Sports Commission for their transformation agenda of Nigerian sports.

Egbe who is the Chief Executive Officer of Monimichelle Facilities Construction Company Limited, a leading stadium construction expert in the continent said he’s happy with what the Chairman of the Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko and the Director General, Bukola Olopade are doing to change the narratives of the country’s sports sector since their appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“I want to dedicate this award to the National Sports Commission for the good job they’re doing to reposition the country’s sports sector.

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“It’s equally important to state that this is the first time after so many years that the right people have been saddled with the responsibility of handling the country’s sports sector and Monimichelle is ready to partner with the Commission to give Nigerians the best stadia they’ll be proud of,” positing that his company does not compromise standard.

Egbe thanked the organisers of the award for picking him as one of the awardees which he said is an indication that the good job his company is doing is being appreciated especially from critical sports stakeholders.

“This award is too dear to me because it’s coming from two reputable organisations who are also major stakeholders in Nigerian sports and it will only make my company to redouble her efforts in delivering quality work as we target to be the best stadium facilities construction company in Africa.”

Chief Executive Officer of  Monimichelle Sports Facility Limited , Ebi Egbe,  has commended the management of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for its decision to organise a sports festival for the youths of the oil rich region; saying it’s a laudable step.

The  NDDC Management, led by its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, recently announced the organization of an annual sports festival in the region with Akwa Ibom as the host of the maiden sporting event expected to hold between April 1 and 8..

Speaking on the development, Egbe described sports as a sector the development commission can use to fight crime and youth restiveness in the region just as he called for more sports infrastructural development in the region.

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” I’m happy that the NDDC has decided to organize a sports festival in the region in which athletes will participate in 20 sports. This is a wise decision because they can use sports to effectively fight youth restiveness in the region.

“I also want to say that the present NDDC is led by men who can deliver the mandate of the Commission and to  equally say that the proposed sports festival should serve as a wakeup call to all the states in the region to make the improvement of sporting infrastructure a priority of their government, ” he said.

United Kingdom-certified grounds man  and CEO of Monimichelle, Ebi Egbe, believes  the newly-appointed  Head Coach of  the Super Eagles , Franco-Malian Éric Sékou Chelle would have a successful reign even as he called on Nigerians to offer him  total support.

The stadium facility expert who is unarguably the nation’s best hand in the industry, noted that the success of any national football team, is heavily influenced by the quality of football infrastructure available, adding Chelle must be helped to succeed  in all ramifications.

”High-quality training facilities are essential for player development, injury prevention, and overall team preparation. Without access to modern pitches, gyms, and medical facilities, it can be challenging for players to perform at their utmost best,” Egbe explained. “The condition of match venues directly affects player performance. Elite players are accustomed to playing on well-maintained pitches, and subpar conditions can hinder their ability to showcase their skills.”

He continued: “Beyond Infrastructure, access to sports scientists can also enhance player performance and team strategy.

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“Players are more likely to be motivated and perform well when they feel they have the support of a well-structured system. Poor infrastructure can lead to frustration and a lack of confidence. Other national teams with better infrastructure may have an advantage in terms of player development and performance.

“The Super Eagles need to compete not just with talent but also with the systems in place in other countries.

“Eric Chelle may have the tactical knowledge and experience to lead the Super Eagles. However, the lack of proper football infrastructure can significantly hinder his ability to maximize the team’s potential. For sustained success, investment in infrastructure is crucial, as it provides the foundation for developing elite players and achieving consistent performance on the international stage.”

Meanwhile, Egbe has sends his best wishes to  the Super  Eagles as they begin their quest to do the nation proud first at  next month’s CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 and the FIFA  World Cup 2026 qualifiers in March.

“I wish the Eagles well, the NFF president, Ibrahim Gusau is a nice man that we must all support for him and his board to succeed,” Egbe added.

The Chief Executive Officer of Monimichelle Facilities Construction Company Limited,  Ebi Egbe, has commended the nomination committee of the maiden Newstap/ SWAN Five Star Sports Award for their transparency; saying that the inclusion of Benue State Governor Reverend Father Hycinth Alia as one of the recipients was a wise decision considering what he’s doing in infrastructural sports development in the state.

The award committee on Friday (December 27th ) released the five eminent personalities for the maiden award among who are  Governor Alia, Chairman of Sunshine Stars , Kunle Soname and  Strategic Partners of NPFL, GTI Assets Management and Trust Limited as well  Ebi Egbe and the Chairman of Benue State FA Bar. Paul Edeh.

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Egbe said he’s  humbled to be nominated,  describing  all the nominees as worthy recipients considering what they have done over the years in developing the country’s sports ecosystem.

He said: ” I must have to say that am humbled and greatly  honoured to be nominated as one of the awardees and I will cherish the award.

” It’s equally important that  I give kudos to the nomination committee for doing a painstaking job in selecting the five awardees. Their inclusion of Benue State Governor is worthy of commendation because of the sports  infrastructural development he has brought to the state since his assumption of office, ” he concluded. 

The award  aimed at recognizing five eminent Nigerians that have contributed meaningfully to the country’s sports development is scheduled to  hold in Lagos  27th February, 2025.

Foremost  facility  expert , Ebi Egbe , believes  Nigerian football can  rebound  if more attention  is paid  to maintaining   of football  pitches  across  the country.

For now, there is dearth of standard  playing surfaces in the country with  only Godswill  Akpabio Stadium otherwise known as the Nest of Champions, certified  fit  by both CAF and FIFA  to hold International matches.

But  Speaking on Naija Made, a football show on SuperSport, Egbe reckoned  it’s about time  that more  attention is paid to maintaining  of football pitches.

 “There is  no doubt we have facilities in Nigeria   but  our major problem is maintenance ,” Egbe, who  constructed the impressive  pitches of the  Mobolaji  Johnson Arena  Stadium  as well as that of  Remo  Sports Stadium  in Ikenne, said.“ Of course, we have the stadiums  but we always forget that it’ not enough to have these facilities if we don’t maintain them.”

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The former Bayelsa State’s Sports Commissioner  harped  on  proper maintenance  of the pitches , adding there is distinct difference between  stadium builders  and grounds men.

He continued :“Maintenance is our biggest problem. We always forget that the most important part of the stadium is the pitch. You can build a stadium with over $50 million  dollars  but if the pitch  is bad, nobody is going to use your  facilities.  

“ Facilities owners  should know that  guys  that build the facilities  and  guys  that construct the pitches are two different people.

Personally, I feel if we can work around our maintenance  culture, there will be  improvement   for our football, “ he added.

The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Monimichelle Sports Facility Construction Company Limited, Ebi Egbe. as well as former Nigeria  international Waidi Akanni have congratulated the Chairman of Nigerian National League ( NNL),  George Aluo on his nomination as Imo SWAN’s  Sports Administrator of the Year.

Aluo will on Saturday, November 16 at the Rockview Hotel in Owerri be bestowed with the prestigious award by the Imo State’s  chapter  of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria(SWAN)   for his immense contributions towards sports development in the country.

Egbe  described the  award  as fitting  testimony  to Aluo’s  giant strides a the NNL, adding  the Imo SWAN has  made the right choice

“It’s a thing of joy that Aluo’s contributions towards sports development in the country especially the turnaround he has brought to the second tier League is being recognized by one of the sectors  critical stakeholders.

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” Aluo since he came on board as Chairman of the most important league in the country has turned around the narratives of the league which has seen it competing for media space with the NPFL and as such he deserves the award,” Egbe stated.

Akanni expressed confidence that the award will spur Aluo to carry out more reforms that will sustain the successes he has recorded in less than two years of being at the helm of affairs at the NNL.

“I must commend the leadership of Imo SWAN for their excellent  choice which cannot be faulted by any right thinking Nigerian.

“I equally hope that this award will encourage the recipient to do more in ensuring that his dream of putting the second tier League at par with its counterparts in developed  countries of the world is achieved,” Akanni stated.

The CEO of Monimichelle Group, Ebi Egbe, is making a clarion call on the Confederation of African Football (CAF)  to ensure only ‘sustainable pitches’  are fixed  as playing surfaces  across the continent,  adding poor maintenance of facilities has stifled the development of the game  as well as  the quality  of play over time.

While commending  the  organisers of the on-going Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Cote d’Ivoire 2023 for providing  an appealing  playing  surfaces, he said it might be difficult to maintain  them  even in the foreseeable future.

  “When we talk about the AFCON it shouldn’t be just an opportunity to only showcase the best African players, it should also be seen as an opportunity to construct sustainable pitches that could outlive the AFCON by another 10 years minimum,” explained  Egbe whose company fixed the  MJ Arena in Lagos ahead of the Aisha Buhari Cup in 2022 among others in the country. “The beautiful 100 percent  natural grass pitches we see on TV during the AFCON are tournament pitches that can’t outlive the AFCON.

“ Climate change is really affecting our continent, our raining season in Africa is not same anymore and our dry season is not also same anymore.”

He said good pitches  across the continent  would  not only improve the standard of the game  but on the long run fuel  the  dream of an African team  at winning the FIFA World Cup.

“We are missing one vital point that could drastically change the narratives of African football and create an opportunity for Africa to one day emerge as World Cup winners,” he continued. “With our lack of maintenance culture in most parts of Africa, CAF should start thinking of introducing synthetic turf pitches with 100 percent natural infill backed up with proper sprinkler system for the AFCON.

“This lead-free synthetic turf pitches with 100 percent natural plant based infills are TV friendly, eco-friendly, flakes free, natural ball bounce and roll, reduced playing surface temperature and supports speed football.

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 “The cost and maintenance implications of this 100 percent natural turf pitches are almost half the cost of constructing one of those tournament pitches that can’t withstand the arch African weather and can’t outlive the tournament.

“Football stadiums are all about the pitches, a beautiful stadium with a bad pitch will be marked poorly during inspection by tournament co-coordinators. This is a food of thought for CAF.”

He said  no one should be surprised  with the quality  being displayed by  Senegal at Cote d’Ivoire  2023, adding the cup holders are one of the few countries on the country that has embraced sustainable pitches back at home.

“ CAF is very much aware of elite players playing elite football in the on-going AFCON. The reigning Champions are the only country with three  Elite pitches in West, East and Central Africa,” he revealed.

“Elite pitches are for elite games and they have very high maintenance regimes. Hybrid pitches are for elite football.”