Everest Ezihe || Hon. Charles Abia said his Love for the youths and to ensure unity of purpose have been the driving forces that motivated him into spending millions of Naira annually to sponsor Okwudor Unity Cup Football Competition.
Abia disclosed this to Sports Journalists at the playing ground field of Central School Okwudor in Njaba Council Area of Imo State shortly after the finals of the 6th edition of the competition hosted last Sunday amidst large turnout of spectators.
According to him “I have special interest in the affairs of the youths and as a youth, I have come to realise that the youth are the core group in every society. When you invest in the youths, you have invested so much into the future generation of that society and football is one veritable event that fosters unity among the people.
Through this competition, we have been able to discover hidden talents and we are prepared to encourage them both in cash and assisting them to showcase their skills nationally and globally through career advancement.
I have undiluted passion for anything concerning the youths. Thus why, I have also scholarship programmes running for them” he revealed.
The sponsor who noted the officiating as wonderful also commended the organizers for doing a great job.
He further canvassed the need for brotherly Love and Unity of purpose among the people of Okwudor and Njaba in general while assuring the youths to be optimistic of better tomorrow.
It is pertinent to recall that the two weeks football fiesta was organized by 5 men Committee with Hon. Oyo Ejikeme Chairman and Prince Obidinyambu Ogbusu as Secretary.
Eight football clubs registered and participated in the tournament which was divided into two participatory groups. Group A was made up of Oil, Unity House, Young Stars and Young Boys Football Clubs while under Group “B” were IzuBest, Paragon, Three Stars and Diamond Football Clubs.
During the competition, Three Stars and Young Stars played third place with Three Stars FC beating their opponent with 2-0 while the finals which was liked to European League was traded between IzuBest FC and Young Stars FC.
To justify the toughness of the match, at the end of the 90 minutes, it was merely IzuBest 1 and Young Stars Nil.
It was a jubilation galore as IzuBest went home with the giant Golden Trophy and prized money of N250, 000 cash while the second runner up, that is Young Stars FC received small Golden trophy and N150,000= cash and third runners up, Three Stars FC went home with N100, 000= cash only.
Furthermore, cash rewards was equally given to the Most Valuable Player (MVP), Mr. Chinaecherem Owen, the Best Goal keeper, Mr. Kizito Chuba and the Highest Goal Scorer Mr. Nnamdi Iheme.
Hon. Abia re-assured that the planning and incentives for this year (2018) tournament will be greater and enjoined the youths to shun antisocial behaviours and vices.