Enyimba head coach, Gbenga Ogunbote insists that the club belong to the elite of African football and is eager to guide the ‘People’s Elephant’ to a place in the 2018 Caf Champions League.

Ogunbote

The Aba club, two-time winners of Africa’s premier club competition in 2003 and 2004, currently sit five points adrift of the Champions League qualification places in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) with seven matches remaining.

Ogunbote says Enyimba will not give up on their push to finish in the top two places in the NPFL this term and is calling on everyone involved with the football club to remain focused to achieve set objectives.

“Enyimba belongs to the Champions League but we have to fight to earn our qualification,” Ogunbote told supersport.com.

“We will fight for it till the end and we still have (seven) matches to play and that is quite a big number to turn things around.

“But at the same time, if we don’t manage it well, we may not get the desired result,” he said.

Meanwhile, plans have reached an advanced stage to see Enyimba return to their home patch, the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba.

Enyimba have prosecuted domestic and continental fixtures in Port Harcourt, Umuahia and Calabar for the almost two seasons as a result of refurbishment work in Aba.

The crucial rehabilitation work and re-grassing of the pitch have now reached the home strait and the ‘People’s Elephant’ is now set to return to a familiar stomping ground.

“The materials for the stadium have come in,” club Chairman, Felix Anyansi Agwu told the club’s official media channel.

“And it would be good for us to return to Aba with the title. The people of Aba would then welcome us with joy.

“I keep commending the Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu (The Abia State Government is the sponsor of Enyimba International FC), for his commitment.

“It is not easy. The reconstruction came at a very difficult moment: when the contract was awarded, the dollar was at a particular level; subsequently, it has shot up, but he is still committed to it.

“It might also interest you to know that the materials for final laying of the grass have arrived.

“So, the contractor has given the signal: as soon as the container is cleared, the job will be completed.

“We are very hopeful that the team will start the new season in Aba, come next season,” he said.