Sports
ANSFA Set To Kick Off Maiden Super 8 Tourney
The Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA) is set to kick off the maiden edition of its grassroots tournament known as ‘My Anambra Football’ Super 8 tournament from February 1.
Member, Organising Committee and ANSFA Board Member, Ralph George, who made this known to newsmen on Monday in Abuja, said the draws for the zonal playoffs of the tournament were held on Saturday in Awka.
“The draws were held on Saturday at the State’s Football Association Secretariat in Awka.
“A total of 27 teams took part in the draws, to be part of the prestigious grassroots competition bankrolled by Aspire FC Adazi Ani.
“The draws conducted by the chairman of the orga-nising committee and a member of the ANSFA board, Oliver Ndigwe, alongside ANSFA Secretary, Chijioke Onyedika, had teams drawn to playoffs in their zones.
“These include; Anambra South, Anambra North and Anambra Central from where teams will emerge for the main Super 8 competition,” he said.
George told newsmen that participating clubs were expected to submit their players’ license on or before 4pm on Tuesday.
He explained that in order to be sure that all players got into the competition with clean bill of health, the sponsors had ensured free medical examination for players of the participating clubs.
“Players of teams from Anambra Central will be examined today at the Alex Ekwueme Square Awka, with that of Anambra North holding tomorrow at Otuocha Stadium, Otuocha.
“Anambra South teams will take their turn on Friday at Ekwulobia Township Stadium Ekwulobia,” he said.
He noted that the zonal playoff would hold from February 1 to February 3 at designated centres in the three zones.
Tidesports source gathered that in the breakdown of the draws, 13 teams featured from Anambra Central Zone, eight clubs registered for the tournament from Anambra North Zone while six clubs made it for Anambra South Zone.
Here are fixtures for the Day 1 games in the playoffs:
Anambra Central Zone:
Global City FC, Umunnachi vs Smith City FC Awka, Young African FC Nawgu vs FC Harkdove Awka, Uncle Ralph FC Mgbakwu vs Ogene FC Obeledu, Solar Spider FC Nibo vs Peace FC Awka.
United FA Amawbia vs DOSAD FA Enugwu-Ukwu.
Anambra North Zone:
Emmykings FC Nsugbe vs Golden Boys FC Onitsha, Ozalla FC Onitsha vs Big-T Global FC Umunya, Ifechikwulu FC Omor vs Nesaco Int’L FC Nkwelle Ezunaka
Macpee FC Omambela vs Ogbaru United FC Okpoko.
Anambra South Zone:
Mecon FC Umunze will tackle Ajalli United FC Ajalli, Rangels FC Achina vs John Paul FC Ihembosi.
Two teams would qualify from each zone for the main competition and would be complemented by two best losing teams.
A well-known football pundit in the State, Chief Christopher Okonkwo has lauded the efforts and vision of the Super Eagles Coach Eric Chelle for going from one venue of the Nigeria Domestic Nigeria Professional Football League match to the other in monitoring Nigerian players, with a view to invite some exceptional good one discovered into the main stream of the Super Eagles team.
Okonkwo, who made the commendation in an interview at the Port Harcourt Club recently, described the positive move by Coach Chelle as a good step in the right direction, noting that the practice was how its been done in the past among any contracted coach assigned to tinker the Super Eagles team.
“Truly, it has been an old tradition in the country seeing any newly engaged Coach to lead the National team, visiting some our Nigeria League venues during the league matches to spot light some good talents that could be used to beef up some grey areas in the department of Eagles team”
He, however, frowned at the current situation where our coaches had continously been over depending on the use of foreign based players during invitation of players to the National camp, thereby, relegating the domestic home based league players to the background as if they have nothing much to offer to the team.
“I can vividly recall that the likes of great players in the mode of Finidi George, Taribo West, Kanu Nwankwo, Austin Okocha, Richard Owobokiri, Emmanuel Osuigwe among others started from Nigeria football league before they graduated to play in Europe through which they later invited to Super Eagles camp to represent Nigeria”
“Besides, I’m also of the view that going to secondary school football competitive games could equally serves as a a good platform to discover budding talents that could be nurtured to become great stars in near future”, Okonkwo frankly added.
Okonkwo, therefore, prayed that any football coach to be engaged by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to tinker the Super Eagles should be told not to confine himself in staying in big hotel alone but to be visiting some of our local league match venues, with a view to discover some good players that can be drafted into the Super Eagles team.
“Indeed, I stand to be challenged that there some young good players in the Nigeria Professional League. If spotted and exposed, could give the some of the invited foreign based players a stiff competitive fight in securing a postion in the team”, Okonkwo emphatically stated.
Ezechukwu, one of the youngest members of the Nigerian contingent at the championship in Ghana, said her ambition was to win the 100m title in style and cap it with a new personal record.
The fresh secondary school graduate explained that she is fully focused on contributing to Team Nigeria’s medal hopes and is determined to deliver strong performances across her events.
“My main objective in Ghana is to clinch the 100m title and the 4×100m,” Ezechukwu told Tidesports source.
“Nigeria can be assured of my very best and my commitment to the Team. I would love to set a new personal best in Ghana, but anything that comes, I will take it. The spirit in the team is high, and I think we are ready to go,” she said.
Ezechukwu, who was part of Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m relay squad at the World Relays in Botswana, said the experience gained from that competition has strengthened her mindset heading into the continental championships.
She admitted that she learned valuable lessons from her previous outing, including a difficult moment during the relay where an early error affected the team’s rhythm, but said she has used the experience to improve her discipline and composure.
“The secret is just being disciplined, training hard and trusting my coach and believing in God, and the result will show,” she added.
The teenager is part of a 41-member Nigerian team comprising 24 female and 17 male athletes competing at the championships, which begin today at the University of Ghana, Legon.
Nigeria are expected to compete across multiple track and field events as they aim for a strong finish against the continent’s elite athletes.
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