Enyimba assistant coach Kelvin Okechukwu Ejeh has resigned from his role after what he described as irreconcilable differences with technical adviser Emmanuel Deutsch Gustavo.
Ejeh submitted his resignation to the nine-time Nigerian champions’ hierarchy, ending his time as deputy to the Cameroon-born coach during the 2025/26 season.
Speaking on Saturday morning, Ejeh said he had decided to leave because he could no longer work effectively in what he considered a toxic environment.
“Enyimba is a club after my heart. It’s a club so dear to me, but you see, I don’t function effectively well under a toxic environment,” he told Completesports.com.
“When your boss begins to listen to gossip without recourse to hearing from you, then it becomes clear that trust is gone and the working relationship has been severed. So, I had to leave.”
Ejeh, who is known by the nickname “Mourinho”, joined the Nigerian Army in 1999 and served in Maiduguri before leaving the military in 2006.
He said his departure from the army had followed a similar experience.
“I left the Nigerian Army in 2006 under similar circumstances. I requested certain things which weren’t forthcoming, and I told them I was leaving. And I left,” he recalled.
After his military career, Ejeh became head coach of Abia Comets, where he spent 12 years before moving to Enyimba with Gustavo following the departure of Stanley Eguma.
“I was at Abia Comets for 12 years before I came to Enyimba. You know Enyimba is a club close to my heart, but now, life goes on,” he said.
Despite his resignation, Ejeh expressed gratitude for his time at Enyimba and praised the welcome he received from the club and its supporters.
“Honestly, the Enyimba people are great. I appreciate the reception given to me from last season when I joined the team until now. I have very fond memories of my time there,” he said.
“The experience has been pleasantly enormous, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have been part of the Enyimba family.”
Ejeh also paid tribute to Gustavo, despite their differences, describing him as a senior brother and mentor.
“I appreciate my boss, Emmanuel Deutsch. He is like a senior brother to me, and I have learned a lot from him,” he added.
He praised Enyimba chairman and former Super Eagles captain Kanu Nwankwo for his leadership, while acknowledging the passion of the club’s fans.
“I will miss the Enyimba fans, who always want the best from everybody in the team. I love them all,” Ejeh said.
The former Abia Comets coach said his manager was considering several options for his next move, but added that he would initially return home to spend time with his family.
“The game is dynamic, and everything changes with time. Sincerely, my manager is working on various options, and if anything crops up, he will let me know,” he explained.
“But for now, I return home to my family, whom I have missed a lot.”
Ejeh is also studying Sports Management at Abia State Polytechnic, where he remains an undergraduate.
“While I catch some rest and have a bit of time with my family as I await the next move, I still pay attention to my studies because I’m undergoing a course at Abia Polytechnic in the Department of Sports Management,” he said.