Dozy Mmobuosi discusses Sheffield United plans, Tingo Airlines and "fake news"
Guinness-loving Dozy Mmobuosi is in the UK, happy to front up and has a lot to say.
The billionaire businessman, 43, is confident of completing his £90million takeover of Premier League-chasing Sheffield United soon, following talks with the current owner Prince Abdullah. Nigerian tech entrepreneur Mmobuosi must first pass the EFL’s owners' and directors' test but, should he do so, the debt-ridden Blades’ recent transfer embargo will be a thing of the past.
“I’ve built a business from nothing,” he said. “And not to say that Prince Abdullah hasn’t, he’s done fantastically well. But I’m going to bring in my experience here.”
Mmobuosi is the founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Tingo Inc, the parent company of Tingo Mobile. The Nigerian is worth $7.6bn (£6.2bn).
Sheffield United are enjoying a superb season under boss Paul Heckingbottom. Winners of 12 of their last 16 games in all competitions, they sit second in the Championship promotion places, ten points clear of the play-off spots.
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United will also host Spurs in the FA Cup Fifth Round after ending Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham dream on Tuesday night. But their embargo prevents them buying a player for the next 18 months unless they win promotion.
Mmobuozi intends to change all that. Asked why he homed in on the Blades, he said: “Sheffield United is a great club. I took a Guinness in a pub there a couple of months back and I felt the energy in that city.
"Hopefully I get approved by the EFL and you’ll find me a capable partner. I’m a long-term, focused person. I’m not here to just take and go.
“I believe we’ll get to the Premier League and remain there. I intend to run this club not just as a business that benefits the fans and myself, but the community.”
Dozy Mmobuosi insists he has the money to back up his Sheffield United bid (Twitter@https://twitter.com/The_Bladesman)Part of Mmobuosi’s plan is to have supporter representation on the Blades’ board.
“Yes. The fans are going to be involved because the football club is for them,” he added. “I’ve been supporting football back home in my country, from grassroots soccer to the Dozy Mmobuosi Super Cup. We just started last year.
“In fact, it competes with the Premier League of Nigeria, I’m proud to say that on global TV. That’s the kind of energy we want to bring into Africa, getting Africans to love Sheffield United.”
Sheffield United skipper Billy Sharp celebrates his goal against Wrexham (Ryan Browne/REX/Shutterstock)Despite his wealth, questions have been raised over Mmobuosi’s takeover bid. They include a claim that there is no evidence a flight from his plane company, Tingo Airlines has ever taken off.
Mmobuosi revealed Covid wrecked his plans to get the venture off the ground: “We started the process first to incorporate the business, to have the feasibility studies and to recruit people.
“But COVID happened, and as an entrepreneur, you have plans, you put plans in place and then you try to lease aircraft, then they begin to delay, you know.
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“I spoke with consultants and it became impossible, basically.”
Dozy Mmobuosi, pictured with boxer Anthony Joshua, could be about to buy Sheffield United (Instagram/dozymmobuosi1)On reports that his company’s Instagram page goes through to a website that doesn't exist and an Airbus A321 appearing to have been Photoshopped, Mmobuosi added: “I would say fake news. There are all sorts of social handles everywhere flying about.
“Someone can easily just set up an account. I have my own personal Instagram handle and of course my Twitter and my LinkedIn. Anything outside of that, is not me.”
The widely-held view is that the smoothest takeovers generally have had little or no fanfare. Mmobuosi maintained he was only speaking out in response to the aspersions cast on his companies.
Asked when he expects the takeover to be completed, he said: “I know my lawyers are working, working closely with Sheffield United’s, but I have no idea when it is going to happen.”
And how will he celebrate?
“I’ll return to Sheffield and have a pint of Guinness!”
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