The home grounds of Abia Warriors in Umuahia, the Abia state Capital and Heartland FC in Owerri, Imo state, have been withdrawn from playing hosts to matches in the 2nd round of this 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier League; NPFL, season due to poor condition of the pitches.
The NPFL board had received several complaints on the condition of the pitches from visiting clubs with Video evidence and decided on the fate of the clubs going forward.
Both clubs are expected to select alternative home grounds from 3Â NPFL approved venues in Aba, Enugu or Port Harcourt on or before their Matchday 19 fixtures.
The Umuahia Township Stadium & Dan Anyiam Stadium will only be reconsidered for playing hosts to any more NPFL games after appropriate measures are taken to improve the playing surfaces to meet required standards.
The service was held at the Apostolic Church Afaha Oku district, Oku Village road, Uyo and was attended by high-profile dignitaries including the Deputy Chief Whip of Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly and Executive Member of Nigeria Football Federation, Otuekong Nse Essien, who was the Special Guest of Honour, Commissioner-1 of the Akwa Ibom state Local Service Commission, Honourable Saturday Akpan, the state Director of Sports, Elder Ifiok Duff, the state Chapter Chairman of SWAN, Comrade Emmanuel Akpan and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, who sent in a representative, among others.
In his sermon entitled “The safety of everything with God”, the presiding pastor, pastor A. A. Okon lauded the club for committing the upcoming season to God and gave scriptural evidence that God will not disappoint them. He offered special prayers and blessed them.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of Dakkada, Coach Aniedi Dickson, said that the club’s decision to hold the thanksgiving service was borne out of the demonstration of God’s love, blessing and faithfulness towards them over the past few years.
“Over the past few years, we have crisscrossed the length and breadth of the country executing NPFL matches and God has ensured that no reports of any bad incidents like accident or attacks have ever emanated from our camp, to His glory”, he said.
Mr. Dickson thanked the Governor of Akwa Ibom state, His Excellency, Mr. Udom Emmanuel and appreciated the state Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Sir Monday Uko, for the employment platform which has been created through Dakkada and made a cash donation to the Church that he described as significant because according to him, it was a sacrificial contribution from all the players, coaches, officials and management staff members without any member of the club being left out.
There was time to dine and wine at a sumptuous reception which followed immediately after the service at Dakkada Club House where hymns were sung, goodwill messages received and refreshments taken including the sharing of a 10kg bag of rice to each member of the club which was donated by the Commissioner, Sir Monday Uko.
Dakkada who have been drawn into Group B will begin their campaign with a trip to Bayelsa United when the 2022/2023 NPFL gets underway this Sunday, January 8, 2023. 
