Government Sets Revival Agenda for Pelican Stars
NIGERIA , CALABAR – The Cross River State Sports Commission has inaugurated a new management team for Pelican Stars Football Club, outlining an ambitious agenda to restore the club’s lost dominance.
Speaking during the ceremony in Calabar, Sports Commission Chairman Etta Lawrence said the state government remains committed to revamping sports through teamwork and institutional support.
Lawrence stated that the inauguration aligned with broader reforms under the National Sports Development framework, stressing collaboration between government, administrators, and technical professionals.
“We are all working as a team to revamp sports in Cross River State,” Lawrence said, while formally welcoming the new management.
According to him, Pelican Stars occupies a special place in the history and emotions of Cross River people, demanding professionalism and measurable results from the new leadership.
He urged the management to see their appointment as a mandate to rebuild structures, restore credibility, and reposition the women’s team nationally and continentally.
Pelican Stars Described as a Continental Football Brand
Lawrence described Pelican Stars as the most popular women’s football team in Africa, insisting the club’s current struggles contradict its heritage.
.He noted that the team’s decline into Nigeria’s lower championship tier remains unacceptable, given its past achievements and massive fan base.
“Pelican Stars is a team across our hearts,” Lawrence said, emphasizing emotional attachment and public expectations surrounding the club’s future.
The sports commission chairman charged the management to focus on reviving the club’s “lost glory” through discipline, professionalism, and strategic planning.
He warned that anything short of promotion and improved performances would amount to repeating the failures of previous administrations.
According to Lawrence, visible progress would distinguish the new leadership from the past and justify public confidence invested in them.
Historic Appointment of First Female Chairman
Lawrence highlighted the historic appointment of Safia Francis-Aribia as the first female chairman of the Pelican Stars management board.
He praised her professional pedigree, describing her as a seasoned manager with decades of experience in Nigeria’s banking sector.
Referring to her popular nickname, Lawrence said, “Tik Madam has been in the banking sector all her life and managed defence banks across Nigeria.”
He expressed confidence that her leadership skills and corporate discipline would translate effectively into football administration.
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“By the grace of God, Pelican Stars is in safe hands,” Lawrence added, while assuring stakeholders of institutional backing.
He disclosed that the state government remains open to working closely with the management to achieve shared objectives.
Government Signals Continued Support
Lawrence revealed that the state executive had already conveyed readiness to collaborate with the new management team.
He described Pelican Stars as one of the best sporting assets Cross River State has produced, citing personal memories of the club’s glory years.
The chairman stressed that restoring Pelican Stars would symbolize the success of ongoing sports reforms in the state.
He urged the board to remain focused, results-driven, and insulated from distractions that undermined previous administrations.
According to him, promotion back to Nigeria’s top flight should remain the immediate and non-negotiable target.
New Chairman Accepts Responsibility
In her acceptance speech, Safia Francis-Aribia thanked the Cross River State Government for entrusting her with the club’s leadership.
She expressed gratitude to Governor Apostle Senator Prince Vasile Thaudet and his wife for finding her worthy of the appointment.
“I’m not going to take this for granted,” Francis-Aribia said, pledging commitment, diligence, and accountability.
She assured stakeholders that her tenure would be defined by hard work, purpose, and a clear departure from past administrative failures.
According to her, passion alone would not drive success without structure, teamwork, and attention to welfare and performance.
Focus on Welfare, Structure, and Technical Collaboration
Francis-Aribia stated that her immediate priorities include player welfare, administrative efficiency, and synergy with the technical crew.
She said the management would work hand-in-hand with experienced football professionals to reposition the club competitively.
“I’m going to work hand in hand with people that are experienced in this whole thing,” she explained.
The chairman stressed that understanding players’ challenges would form the basis for improved performances and renewed motivation.
She emphasized dialogue with existing players before embarking on major recruitment decisions.
Player Recruitment to Follow Professional Advice
Responding to questions on squad restructuring, Francis-Aribia said recruitment would follow professional recommendations from the technical team.
She disclosed that the current squad would remain intact initially, pending evaluations and consultations.
“We will work with the ones we have for now,” she said, while outlining plans for meetings with players.
According to her, identifying reasons behind declining performances would help management implement targeted solutions.
She noted that informed decisions would replace assumptions that previously undermined team morale and cohesion.
Banking Experience Seen as Administrative Asset
Addressing concerns about transitioning from banking to sports administration, Francis-Aribia drew parallels between football and corporate management.
She described football as a system that thrives on teamwork, discipline, and shared responsibility, similar to banking institutions.
“Football is like the banking system; it’s all about teamwork,” she stated.
She explained that her leadership philosophy rejects hierarchy-driven management in favour of collaborative problem-solving.
According to her, success depends on understanding internal and external dynamics rather than ruling from a distance.
Leadership Philosophy Anchored on Teamwork
Francis-Aribia said she would function as a team member, not merely as board chairperson, to foster trust and accountability.
She argued that leaders who isolate themselves often fail to understand operational realities.
“You don’t need to be a footballer to manage a team,” she added, stressing the importance of passion and purpose.
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She described her passion as firm, disciplined, and resistant to complacency or laxity.
According to her, that passion would place everyone, including herself, on constant performance review.
Navigating Politics and Professionalism
Responding to concerns about politicisation of state-owned clubs, Francis-Aribia acknowledged the challenge of political interference.
She said her focus and clarity of purpose would help her navigate distractions common in publicly funded sports institutions.
According to her, viewing the club as a civil service posting would undermine competitiveness and ambition.
She pledged to maintain professionalism and insist on results-driven management standards.
Francis-Aribia reaffirmed her commitment to restoring Pelican Stars to national relevance within the shortest possible time.
Expectations High as New Era Begins
The inauguration ceremony ended with renewed optimism among stakeholders, supporters, and sports administrators in Cross River State.
Observers say the success of the new management could redefine women’s football development in the state.
Truth Live News Correspondents, Calabar reports that with government backing, professional leadership, and public scrutiny, expectations remain high for immediate progress.
Pelican Stars now face the challenge of translating promises into performance as the new football season approaches.
