ANYANSI HAILS ‘SPECIAL’ UDOJI, PLEDGES ENYIMBA’S SUPPORT FOR WIDOW

Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu has described former captain Chinedu Udoji as “special”, while enjoining the current playing staff of the team to aspire to his legacy.

The Enyimba Chairman on Thursday held a meeting with the team, and was visibly emotional as he reminisced on Udoji’s early days at the club.

The address began with an impeccably observed minute’s silence observed in honour of the deceased, after which Anyansi charged the players to lead similarly exemplary lives.

“Chinedu (Udoji) is someone I’m very proud of. Seeing the reaction in Nigeria, you begin to understand what it means for someone to be special.

“His attitude to the team showed gratitude and love, right to the end. He is an example, and a lesson to you all: use this career well, and it will lift you. Anybody can die, but your aim should be to be remembered the way Chinedu is remembered. He left an impact on the hearts and minds of everyone.”

Anyansi also expressed his sadness at the plight of the stalwart defender’s young widow and children. To that end, he pledged the total support and commitment of the management to assuaging their loss.

“As long as I remain the Chairman, Enyimba will play a big role for his family. A very big role,” he vowed.

Afterward, he challenged the players concerning the club’s Round of 32 clash against Energie FC in the CAF Confederation Cup next month. Anyansi warned against any form of complacency going into the tie, and iterated his belief in the team’s ability to compete on multiple fronts.

“Please do not underrate the team we are going to play. They are well motivated. They are a young team, and highly physical.

“If we play ourselves out of the continent, there won’t be the moral to continue in the league. When we won the CAF Champions League back-to-back, we won the league as well. You must understand that, and be challenged by it,” he said.