The Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano has fulfilled yet another election promise made as part of his youth development programme with the flag-off of the 2015 Anambra U-17 Academicals Governor’s Cup Competition.
The Flag-off of the football competition involving seventy girls’ teams and eighty boys teams from different secondary schools across the state was performed by the governor Saturday at the St Charles Special College Onitsha playground, with a kick-off in the match between Washington Grammer School, Onitsha and Dennis Memorial Grammer School (DMGS), Onitsha.
Addressing the people, Governor Obiano said that his administration was reviving the soccer academicals as an annual competition aimed at developing the youths at the secondary school level across the state.
He underscored the importance of sports as a vehicle for putting the students in the right frame of mind for their studies, since it is said that “a healthy body is in a healthy mind.”
According to Obiano, “The academicals used to be a grooming ground where most of Nigeria’s valuable players were produced in the past. As you can see, I am here with the former Nigerian goal keeper, Mr. Emmanuel Okala who once played for Metropolitan College Onitsha before moving-up to excel at the national and international level. The plan is to ensure that Anambra will continue to be on top in sports in Nigeria and Africa.”
Governor Obiano stated that at the end of the tournament, the overall winning school would go home with a cash price of four million naira.
Earlier, Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Ogbuefi Tony Nnacheta said that the academicals was revived in line with the mandate of the governor to make sure the state excel in sports.
He explained that the competition was featuring about two hundred football matches from where a school champion and a lot of talented youths in soccer would emerge.
Also speaking, the member representing Onitsha North 1 in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Barrister Chigbo Enwezor appreciated Governor Obiano for his efforts in reviving school sports which he said would go far in gingering the young ones and the people of the state.
The very entertaining football match which saw Washington Grammer School beat the DMGS team by two goals to one was witnessed by many football enthusiast comprising of members of the state Executive Council and secondary students from competing schools.
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