From Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha
Anambra East local government area team has won the U-17 football competition sponsored by the Senator representing Anambra North district at the Senate, Stella Adaeze Oduah.
The tournament, which involved 14 football teams, has two from each of the seven LGAs in Anambra North.
After the first round of play, Onitsha South 1, Onitsha South 2, Ogbaru 1, Ogbaru 2, Anambra East 1, Anambra East 2, Anambra West 1 & Anambra West 2 qualified for round of eight of the competition.
At the end of the round of eight competition, Ogbaru 1, Anambra East 2, Anambra West 1, Onitsha South 1 qualified for the semi-final while Ogbaru 1 and Anambra East qualified for the final place competition.
The final, match which was played at Central School Akili-Ozizor field, saw Anambra East emerging the winner of the tournament, Ogbaru as 1st runner up and Onitsha South 2nd runners up.
Senator Oduah represented by the DG of Sen. Stella Oduah Campaign organization, Chief John Ogbuedi handed over the medals, cup (trophy) and cash gift provided by the senator to the winning teams.
The Chairman of Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the football competition, Hon. Tochukwu Odukwe commended Senator Oduah for touching the sports sector through football competition in the zone, which aimed at uniting the people of the area especially the youths.
“We have experienced well fine-tune manifestos before by politicians but once elected the manifestos will definitely not be remembered.
“But that has not been the case of Senator Stella Oduah. She promised to touch every sector and today the senator did it again by hosting the final of the Senator Stella Oduah U17 football challenge in her hometown Akili-Ozizor in Ogbaru LGA of Anambra State.
Some of the players expressed joy for participating in this year’s football competition and thanked Sen. Oduah for remembering the sport sector in her agenda, which they said is the unifier of any nation, state and community.
“Our special thanks go to the distinguished senator for offering young boys this golden opportunity to show case their target and we know that good players from this competition would be selected to play for clubs and Nigeria football team”.
