By Ogu Bundu Nwadike, M.A
The first round matches of the Imo PDP Youth Football Championship 2020 ended with the end of the year, 2020. At the Leadership Meeting of Ideato North LGA on Saturday, February 20, 2021, the participation of the LGA was among tops on the agenda for the meeting.
In his report, the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the championship in the LGA, Chief Tony Ebi, displayed the spirit of sportsmanship when he passionately told the leaders that the LGA came second in Group E that it played in.
Thanking leaders of the Party, he stated that in spite of some initial odds, the LOC that he headed did everything possible to get some leaders of PDP in the LGA to provided various sponsorship for the LGA’s team to participate in the championship, coming second on the table.
Stating that it wasn’t possible to give the names of all the leaders that provided sponsorship for the championship, Chief Tony Ebi, however, thankfully mentioned a few, including his humble self, Dr. ThankGod Ezeani, Arc. Chidi Clinton Okoli, Chief Chinemeya Iheaku, Hon. Mrs. Obianuju Evarista Ihejiagwa, and others who made financial donations, with other leaders who donated footballs, jersies, boots, etcetera for the championship. He thanked them for supporting the Championship with funding.
The gangling LOC Chairman specifically reported that Ideato North LGA traded tackles in Group E, with Ohaji-Egbema LGA topping the table. He said that other LGAs in the Group were Nwangele and Oru East.
He announced that Ideato North played 6 matches, won 3, drew 1, lost 2, scored 6 goals conceded 4 goals, got total points of 10.
The eventual winner in the Group, Ohaji-Egbema LGA played played 6 matches, won 6, conceded no goal, and got total points of 18.
Nwangele LGA played 6 matches, won none, drew 3, lost 3, scored 3 goals, and conceded 6 goals, getting 3 points.
Oru East LGA played 6 matches, won none, drew 2, lost 4, scored 1 goal, and conceded 2 goals, getting 2 points.
Chief Tony Ebi said the Ideato North LGA team’s performance was good enough under the circumstances, and said he was anticipating the number of teams going into the Second round to include the winners and the runners up.
That, he said, could see Ideato North LGA lifting the trophy as the overall winners of the championship, because the team kept playing better with each match.
In his speech, Mr. Fancy Ewuru, ex-international footballer, who starred for Enugu Rangers and Nigeria, and later became a coach, thanked Imo PDP for organizing the Football Championship, saying it was very image maker for the Party.
He thanked the leadership of the Party and Chairman and members of the LOC in Ideato North LGA for supporting the Party in the LGA in participating in the competition.
He said when he got news of the Championship he volunteered to join the LOC to provide coaching tips to the youth players, since he had experience in football coaching.
Coach Ewuru stated that he was happy that his joining the team resulted in some improvement in their performance. He pledged to ensure that the team performs better in future editions of the championship.
Before rounding off his speech, Coach Ewuru, who looked rather very youthful, implored everybody to imbibe the habit of exercising even if in small ways. According to him, exercise, games and sports are quintessential for good health and better living.
The LGA Chairman, Hon. ThankGod Okereke thanked the LOC Chairman, Chief Tony Ebi and members of the LOC, particularly Coach Ewuru, for putting up a relatively good performance, as the LGA wasn’t disgraced in the Championship.
Hon. Okereke also thanked all the Party leaders that sponsored the team to the Championship, urging them to continue to stand with the LGA in funding of the programmes and projects of the Party whenever the need arises.
The roll call of prominent leaders at the meeting included: Chief Chinemeya Iheaku, Chief Nnachebe Ojike, Barr. Josiah Eze, Arc. Chidi Clinton Okoli, Chief Tony Abili, Hon. Chinenye Nwabueze, Chief Tony Ebi, Hon. Ernest Njesi, former Interim Management Committee (IMC) Chairman of Ideato North LGA, Hon. Uche Onyejesi, Pharm. Tony Ejieji, Hon. Kanayo Nwankwo (Okwuruoha), Chief George Igbo, Dr. Chris Okafor, Hon. Sam Ohia, Hon. Ngozi Offor, Hon. George Igwe (Onyebuzor), Mrs. Obianuju Evarista Ihejiagwa (Orlu Zonal Women Leader), Comr. Chikere Elec Njaka (LGA Youth Leader), Barr. Emeka Ezeoke, Mazi Morris Ogbonna, Chief Nnabuike Okonkwo, Mr. Fancy Ewuru, and others.
To God be the glory!
Power to the People!!