November 26, 2015 – General Manager, Diamond Football Academy Umuahia Mr. Victor Apugo has strongly refuted allegations recently published by allnigeriasoccer.com and Sporting Life.
“I don’t know the problem the websites have with Emmanuel Amunike because for a very long time now they have consistently shown through their publications that they have a vendetta against him. Amunike is a man who served Nigeria meritoriously as a player and who has recently proved himself as a coach with the Golden Eaglets and he is an honourable man who deserves to be given his due respect having paid his dues to Nigerian football. It is very disrespectful to drag his name in the mud like that.
“He is a hardworking coach with a solid scouting network who toured the nation round in seeking out the best legs for Nigeria and he saw our boys and picked them and now people jealous of his achievements are trying to paint him black.
“Diamond Academy was formed in 2012 by members of the Apugo Royal family in Umuahia. By that time Amunike was not even a national team coach. In our short existence we already have a reputation of nurturing solid youngsters many of whom have moved to clubs abroad and who have represented Nigeria in the national teams. Our player Chukwuebuka Iroha is in Senegal with the U23 team, is that Amunike at work or is Siasia also in alliance with Diamond Academy? Goldfish have no hiding place and Diamond Academy produce goldfish quality players. All our players are where they are today based on merit, not with Amunike’s help or any other means.
“Without mincing words, Diamond Academy is one of the best run football academies in the country. We invest so much in the development of young players for this country not just for our own profit but as a form of youth empowerment and we will not let any negative reports by any detractors stop us from bettering the lives of these boys and giving them a platform to bring glory to Nigeria,’ concluded Victor Apugo.
