By Monica Iheakam
The 2022 Paddysco Sports Academy Sports Fiesta and Awards took place at City Pride School in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos State over the weekend as players, staff and parents gathered to look back at another successful season.
It was equally an epoch making event to honour outstanding players and coaches for 2022. In all, 33 awards were handed out to deserving young boys and girls.
The Academy for boys and girls of 3 years and above was formed by the Chief Executive Officer Peter Azunnaya Okere, focuses on discovering, nurturing and development of talents.
Speaking at the ceremony Okereke said he is pleased with the academy’s growth, even as he expressed gratitude to the parents who took the leap of faith by entrusting their children to the academy.
“This is the 5th edition of our awards and it has been awesome. We really thank God for where we are today because the number of kids and the patronage we enjoy has increased.
“Also the kind of international partnership we are having this year, we have not had it before. Now we can boast of various options of taking our players abroad. Indeed it has been a year blessed with a lot of things.
“The essence of setting up the academy has been met, because when we started Paddysco Academy, we were actually looking at replicating what we see on television in Europe, catch them young. We have been able to achieve that.”
The award ceremony chaired by Mrs Ijeoma Juliet Ude witnessed a number of awards given out including the awards in ballet, football, and staffs of the academy.
The Most Valuable Player award went to Emmanuel Chukwuemeka of Titans, Oyibo Ebuka of Royals won the Most Developed Player award while, Most Punctual Dancer award for Ballet went to Onyike Chinyere Sunshine of Elastic Queens.
Best Coach of the year was given to Ifeanyi Amadi, while Abdulfatai Werra of Incredibles received the MDP Award.