By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
The Secretary of the Board of Anambra Beach Soccer Warriors, Dr. Emma Nsoedo last Wednesday expressed readiness about the upcoming National Beach Soccer Competition billed to hold in Kebbi State from 10th April to 13th April 2024.
Addressing Newsmen at Moonshine Residence, Nnewi, Dr. Nsoedo, a former Commissioner for Sports , Anambra State, stated that they have all it takes to win the competition, stating that they have garnered enough experience and exposure, announcing that Anambra State would host the second round of the competition after Kebbi State.
According to him, they have been engaging in local and amateur competition in readiness for the forthcoming event, saying that they built a standard beach soccer pitch situated at Nnewi High School, Nnewi that was generally accepted and approved by the best in the game.
“We are ready. We will be going to the competition as veterans and not as newbies. We have all that we need to prosecute the game. A lot of players were invited to the camp and from there the best was picked. We have the manpower. We engaged the experts in beach soccer development.
“We started in the year 2021. We have not made any inroad in the national league; we are going for our maiden and we are optimistic about our chances of winning Competition. It is not actually about going there as first timers but as experienced managers of the game. We have the best hands here. We are happy that our benefactor and President of the Board is really pulling the strings in terms of financing our activities. He has done a lot for us and this is the time to pay him back. He has been financing our activities essentially by himself without regard to the pains that come with bankrolling such a huge project. We are grateful to him. We need you people (the media) to help us with enough publicity. We have had lots of exhibition games, some were held at Anglican Girls, Nnewi.
“We are calling on stakeholders in Anambra State to invest in Beach Soccer including the government. In all fairness, we have not asked the governor for any assistance. We really want to surprise him. Sports is a lucrative venture. All should join in the business. We welcome competitions, it will keep us on our toes. We have won the confidence of the nation and they are all coming to Anambra State after the Kebbi outing. You can imagine what it will do to our economy.
“Think about these young players who will eke out a living from the competition. Starting from nowhere to stardom . Once they are made, they will give back to society. Just look at George Finidi and Nwankwo Kanu and how they started from scratch, they went ahead to conquer the world. Today, they are giving back to the people”, Nsoedo said.
In their separate speeches, the Technical Adviser of the team, Mr. Obinna Kingsley Nwagba and the captain of the team, Mr. Chinweze Gabriel assured of a memorable outing, even as they vowed to bring home the trophy.
Visiting the newly built beach soccer pitch at Nnewi High School, Nnewi, taking photographs by the players and the coaching crew formed the highpoints of the event.
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