By: Absalom Mulama
Posted on Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Nigerian Businessman and politician Orji Uzor Kalu has expressed interest to buy into Premier League Giants, Arsenal Football club. The current senator and former governor of Abia North State in Nigeria on Monday hinted at buying 35% shares at Arsenal, with a lofty dream of helping them win the Premier League and the Champions League.
Uzor on Monday 16th November took to his Twitter account to announce his ambition. He based his confidence on their accomplishments with Nigerian team Enyimba Football Club. The senator said, “Our success with Enyimba Football Club between 2000-2007 has continuously increased my passion for football. As the pillar of sports in Africa, I am considering an investment in football and I will buy 35 percent stake in Arsenal FC.”
He continued, “Our target is to lift the Champions League and Premier League back to back as we did with Enyimba.” Enyimba FC is considered Nigeria’s most successful football club by winning two African Champions League titles, eight Nigerian League titles and four Federations Cups since 2001. Uzor believes that Enyimba’s success can be replicated with Arsenal, in the English Premier League and Europe’s Champions League.
Uzor is not the first Nigerian businessperson with a desire to own a stake at Arsenal. Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote was earlier this year also expressed an interest of investing in the Gunners.
Dangote however said that he would like to finish his refinery company first, then consider buying into Arsenal in 2021. Arsenal is currently owned by two rival tycoons, American Billionaire Stan Kroenke and Russian Alisher Usmanov, with Kroenke as the majority shareholder.
The Gunners are currently not doing as well as their fans would hope. They are currently sitting at 11th place in the Premier League table and haven’t played in the Champions League for two consecutive years.