. . . Schools, Traders, Communities, Security Agencies to Take Part
By Jude Atupulazi
The maiden Anambra State Football Season will kick off on the first of February this year with a total of 1062 primary and 258 secondary schools participating.
Disclosing this to local government sports officers at the Conference Hall of Government House, Awka, last Tuesday, the chairman of the Anambra State Sports Commission, Mr Tony Oli, said that the football season which will have six cups to be competed for, would feature schools, traders, communities and security agencies, all competing for their various cups.
For schools, according to the schedule he released for the football season, there will the Under-13 Cup for primary schools; U-17 or Academicals Cup for secondary schools; Community Shield or King’s Cup for communities; Uni-Soccer for tertiary institutions; Market Exchange or Traders Cup and Security Challenge for the security agencies.
The U-13 Cup will be rounded off with the grand finale on May 27 which is Children’s Day.
According to Oli, the Security Challenge was to appreciate the security agencies for doing a good job in the state, as well as to keep them fit.
Eight of the agencies will take part and they include, the Army, Navy, Police, Civil Defence, Federal Road Safety Commission, among others.
Oli said that specially branded balls had been distributed to all the participants, noting that the branding was to avoid the balls being sold.
Primary schools will play their matches on home and away basis on Fridays, same as secondary schools, which will however play their matches on Saturdays.
The local government sports officers are saddled with the responsibility of transmitting match results to the state.
Speaking on the essence of the competitions, Oli said it was aimed at creating an enabling environment for the state to bounce back to her once eminent position in sports in the country by producing a new set of stars.
He urged all those taking part in the competitions to display the spirit of sportsmanship by accepting results in good faith.
