The final of the maiden edition of Dr Chijioke Ekechukwu’s football tournament among the six villages in Nguru Nweke has brought back memories of football exploits in Mbaise.
According to the local organizing committee chairman, Nze Philip Onyenali, the competition which kicked off on September 16 has in no little measure brought back the Footballing festivities that usually characterize the 70’s in Nguru-Nweke and Mbaise at large.
Nze pointed out that for some years now that the people of Nguru-Nweke had not experienced the type of footballing festivities like the Ekechukwu’s competition, adding that in some occasions, football tournaments never came to a conclusive end.
He further stated that six villages- Umuamadi, Eziala, Egberede, Okwu, Eziuhu and Amaohuru all participated in the 3 months tournament which saw Umuamadi emerging as champions after beating Egberede in the final with a lone goal.
In a chat with Imo Trumpeta after the final game, the cup donor, Dr Chijioke who was recently decorated with a doctorate degree award by the commonwealth of Beliss in Dubai expressed his happiness over the outcome of the tournament especially the manner with which the players and spectators comported themselves.
He however couldn’t hide his feelings for his own village, Umuamadi who emerged champions without loosing a single game.
Dr Ekechukwu did reveal that he was lured into sponsoring the tournament after discovering that the festivities that actually greeted his youth days were no longer there and after he was duly informed that no one was willing to continue it, hence he decided to step in. “I also intend to use the tournament to help keep the youths off social vices as well as help to discover raw talents who can go further to become stars” he said.
At the end of the game, Umuamadi smiled home with the sum of N200, 000 plus another N200,000 promised by their kinsman Dr Chijioke as bonus. Egberede who came second got the sum of N150, 000 while Okwu also recieved N50, 000 for coming third.
The match was greeted with lots of dignitaries and one of them the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Chief Paully Dibia, OPS in charge of zone 9,. commended the donor for using football to unite Nguru-Nweke.
