By Dave Uka
The FON Izzi unuphu Community Unity Cup football competition among the four communities of Achara village, Nkaliki, Agbaja Unuphu, and Inyimegu has kicked off at Nkaliki Primary School, Abakaliki In Ebonyi State.
The competition which is been sponsored by the state commissioner for works and transport, Engnr Stanley Mbam will see teams from the four villages compete for honors in the 3 -week football fiesta.
According to the tournament schedule, the winner would be going home with a trophy and other prizes. Echara FC versus Nkaliki FC played out a draw at the opening game that was kicked off by the Chairman of Abakaliki Local Government Area, Hon. Stephen Ebere Nwogba (JP).
Speaking with the Journalists, Engr Stanley Mbam who is the sponsor of the tournament said the competition is geared towards raising talented stars and building peace and unity in the Izzi unuphu community in line with Governor Francis Nwifuru's people's Charter of Needs agenda in the state.
"It is also geared towards galvanizing support for Governor Francis Nwifuru's administration in the state". Mbam added.
He called on the youths and stakeholders to always support the government of Chief Francis Nwifuru in his quest to change the narrative of the State.
Engr Mbam who described sports as a unifier encouraged the youths to embrace peace and unity through the tournament and play the game as brothers and not as enemies.
"What moved me is because it's a project of the charter of needs, looking at the administration of our governor and his mandate in which he came on board, you will understand that the government is interested in the people's needs.
"In my consistency, I deemed it necessary that it's been a long my people have been lacking such needs. I felt this is also important, especially during this festival period that it's necessary we join and reconnect with our youths and make bonds and effective representatives in our constituency to bring youths together have more unions, and discuss the way forward in supporting the government of Ebonyi state.
"It also serves as a talent hunt, from the game, we witnessed more talented ones who may be looking for opportunities and this opportunity will keep unveiling itself, looking at the last approval from His Excellency for scholarships for some merited qualified graduates to do their masters abroad so in this kind of football you can get another talent that can be sponsored for the benefit of Ebonyi state."
"The youths should comport themselves and have hope and believe. In whatever you are doing there should be more commitment to it you don't know where your seating lies. I encourage them to enjoy the moment why it lasts and have more hope for tomorrow".
He thanked the Organizing committee for putting up a very colorful opening ceremony, while also charging them to ensure that only the best players were selected.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the committee, Onele Stanley thanked the sponsor for finding him worthy to be saddled with the responsibility of organizing the football tournament, promising that he will not let the Commissioner and the community down by ensuring that the tournament delivers on it’s set objective
"This is an unusual community football cup competition, a total of four teams are partaking in the three-week-long tournament which promises to be exciting, being the first of its kind in the community.
"Four villages of the community; Achara village, Nkaliki, Agbaja Unuphu, and Inyimegu are competing in the tournament, by the 31st of this month, it will be the grand finale
"I want to thank the sponsor of the tournament, the state commissioner for works Engr Stanley Mbam for the opportunity given to me to serve," he said.
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