By Francis Tim Mbom
Rev. Father Aloysius Ituka Ndifor recently resigned as the President of the Limbe-based DII side, Victoria United, aka OPOPO.
In a letter addressed to a Limbe radio station about his resignation, Rev. Fr. Ndifor said his reasons were based on what he called a persistent attitude of playing funny with the finances of the Club by some of his Executive members. Father Ndifor resigned a day after he sacked the Club's coach, Joseph Monthe.
"I cannot stand having my reputation tarnished, following a persistent attitude of playing funny when money is concerned and other cookery attitudes, resistance to change by some executive members," Ndifor wrote.
Rev. Ndifor, who is also the Principal of St Paul's Catholic College
Bonjongo, took over the reigns of this age-old sporting outfit a year
ago at a time the club was financially limping.
Ndifor's coming alongside Rev Father Sebastian Fonsah of the New Town
Parish, as the Club's Treasurer, was a pleasant and welcome surprise to
many.
If managerial impropriety of the Club's finances had been a problem then the coming of this God-fearing duo as was widely expected was certainly a solution. But Ndifor's resignation means not even the awe of his priestly reign, as President, has been enough to deter those who apparently have cultivated the habit of playing foul with the Club's money.
When The Post contacted Rev Father Fonsah on Wednesday, February 20, he threatened equally to leave the club if news of Father Ndifor's resignation was true.But the Executive President, Otto Mosaka, who was Ndifor's Assistant told The Post on Saturday, February 23 that he was not in accord with the Reverend's actions.
'I respect Father Ndifor as a clergy, but I think dismissing the Coach and resigning was, to me, wrong,' he said.Otto said he could not say anything concerning the mismanagement of the Club's money.
The Secretary General of the Club, John Nemande, corroborated Otto by
saying he could not as well tell about the allegations of some members
being itchy when it comes to money.
"Perhaps some money has disappeared somewhere and only the Reverend can best explain," he said.
Presently OPOPO occupies the sixth position on the league table of the on-going MTN Elite II League in Zone Three. Last year the team disputed the final match in the SW mini-interpools that saw Tiko United into the MTN Elite I.
The Post tried in vain on Saturday February 23 to reach Rev Ndifor by phone for some further comment.
What are priests doing running football clubs anyway? The bishop shudda told him to concentrate on his priestly activities instead of running a football club.
Posted by: Kappa | Monday, 10 March 2008 at 01:10 PM