Enyimba of Aba manager, Paul Aigbogun has sensationally said that his one-season managerial role with the seven-time domestic league champions was his most stressful in the last 15 years.
“I arrived London this (Tuesday) evening to rest and re-unite with my family,” Aigbogun said
“It was a stressful season, my most stressful season in the last 15 years of coaching.
“I’ve not seen my family since I took up the Enyimba job in January.
“When I was in Warri Wolves, I used to travel to London to see my family every three months.
“But now, I’ve stayed for about nine months without seeing my family”.
Agbogun looked over his shoulders and confessed that Enyimba had a disappointing campaign on all fronts last term.
“It was disappointing we finished the season empty-handed, but then playing away from home all through the season made the whole situation more horrible”.
He blamed the harvest of woes by the most successful Nigerian club on poor funding and inability to play their home games in Aba.
“I must tell you, if we had played our games in Aba, we could have won the CAF Champions League.
“You know how the atmosphere in Aba used to be whenever Enyimba play.
“I’ve worked with the club in 2013/2014, so I know what I’m talking about.
“Of course, the issue of players’ constant agitation for payment of contractual entitlements also affected us,” Aigbogun who had a one season spell at Warri Wolves before moving to Enyimba in January
The one-time defunct Gabros International of Nnewi gaffer was evasive on his future with the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, side amidst speculation over his imminent departure.
“I don’t know when I’ll be back, the season has just ended and I needed to rest and see my family.
“Honestly, I’ve not spoken with the management of the club as regards contract renewal or not,” Aigbogun further said
But our checks at the club which pride themselves as People’s Elephant reveal that coach Aigbogun had packed all his personal belongings out of his residence in Aba even before the Federation Cup semi final 1-0 defeat by Nasarawa United on Saturday in Ibadan.
“It was in similar manner that Kadiri Ikhana left,”an official of Enyimba said.
“When we hosted Warri Wolves in match day 37 here in Aba which we drew to win the league, Ikhana packed his personal belongings even before we travelled to Lagos for the formality match day 38 clash with Sunshine Stars.”
Enyimba finished the 2015/2016 NPFL campaign on 9th position with 50 points.
They crashed out of the CAF Champions League after finishing last in their three-team Group B following the expulsion of Algeria’s Entente Setiff over crowd troubles that overshadowed their opening group clash with Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.
Aigbogun’s Enyimba capped a disappointing season with a semi-final elimination in the Federation Cup by Nasarawa United Saturday in Ibadan.
