Ifeanyi Ubah, owner of FC Ifeanyi Ubah, has promised to behave himself as he returns to watch matches in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Ubah, who was banned for 10 games and fined N2.5 million following his violent conduct during a game between his club and Heartland FC, returned to the stands last Sunday, and saw his team defeat Niger Tornadoes 2-0.
“I am happy to be back. I have learnt my lessons and I promise to be of exemplary nature and be a role model and ambassador,” he said.
Skipper of his team, Chibuzor Okonkwo, disclosed that Ubah’s “presence definitely made an impact in our performance. Seeing him in the stands today (Sunday, May 22), we the players were galvanised to get a result.”
The billionaire proprietor had encroached on the pitch during a fracas after the South East derby and slapped Heartland goalkeeper, Ebele Obi, elder brother of Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel.
The League Management Company (LMC) initially fined the club N500,000 with Ubah merely getting a caution, while Obi got a six-match ban.
However, the emergence of a video showing Ubah slapping Obi forced the LMC to review the sanctions and drop the hammer hard on Ubah.
In addition to the fine and stadium ban, he was asked to write a letter of apology along with an undertaken of good conduct.
Part of the update, however, is that Ubah has handed the club N100 million, saying: “I want the best for this club. So in that respect, we are giving the club management this token of N100 million for the acquisition of players in the next transfer window.
“We want the club to return to the top position, now the staff know what to do, Nnewi people want the league title, and so we are watching.”