Anambra Inter-Community Football Competition Not For Political Campaigns — Officials

By Raymond Ozoji, Awka

Officials of the Solution Community Shield Football Championship have made it categorically clear that the grassroots football competition which began officially on Sunday October 8, 2023 at the Awka Township Stadium is not for political campaigns but to use the competition to harness talents and groom them for professional football.

The grassroots football championship which is sponsored by the Anambra State Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters, is one of the numerous veritable means Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo is engaging youths meaningfully to rediscover themselves as well as rewrite their stories.

Some of the officials who spoke to journalists shortly after the opening match between Awka FC and Ogidi FC, unanimously endorsed the competition, saying that Governor Soludo was not only building concrete infrastructure, he is also building human infrastructure.

They were of the opinion that the community football championship has no atom of political undertones rather it is an avenue for recreation, conviviality, empowerment and reduction of crimes and criminalities amongst youths in the state.

Speaking on the tournament, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters, Hon. Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne, explained that the objective of organising the grassroots football games was to unite as well as bring lasting peace in all the communities.

Nwabunwanne stated that it was equally a way of discovering young talented footballers as he believes that Anambra State have had the highest best footballers in all the 36 states of the federation. He also added that the inter-community football championship would be used to hunt for talented young men that will form the Soludo Solution Team.

According to the Commissioner, the grassroots football tournament was not an APGA affair judging from the number of communities participating in the grassroots championship.

Another official who doubles as the National President of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) Chief Barr. Titus Nnabuike Akpudo, expressed profound gratitude to Governor Soludo for making the grassroots football competition a reality through the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters.

Akpudo noted that the essence was to ensure that Anambra youths were engaged positively and also serve as talent hunt for Ndi-Anambra. He stated that the incoming Anambra State Solution Team would be formed with talents discovered from the community football championship.

The ASATU national president equally reiterated that the grassroots football competition was not for political campaigns and that Governor Soludo doesn’t need to galvanise support through it as his works will speak volumes for him.

He said the governor has employed 5000 teachers and still employing another 3000 even as he was cognisant that the governor equally granted free education in the state. He however admonished all the participating teams to ensure fair play, stressing that the grassroots football competition was just a platform for talent hunt.

The Ohaneze Ndigbo state president in Anambra, Chief Obi Chukwuemekalum Udodeme, also corroborated what others affirmed that the football competition was not for political reasons but for talent hunt, adding that it would help to discover those who will represent Nigeria in the near future.
Udodeme therefore commended ASATU, the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters and others for organising the grassroots football fiesta, saying that the government of Professor Soludo is indeed youth friendly.

The President-General of the Youth Wing of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions, Comrade Ken Okoli, described the tournament as a game of engagement. He said it was the first time it is happening in the state and efforts would be made to sustain it.

Okoli noted that there were no political underpinnings in the competition and that it was not yet time for electioneering activities as Governor Soludo still has ample time to continue to deliver good governance to Ndi-Anambra.

Also, the President-General of Nkpor community in Idemili-North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Sir Emeka Mbagha, emphasized that anyone alluding to political colourations or connotations in any form does not love the youths of Anambra State.
Mbagha said that football is not political rather it is a universal language that unites the whole world. He said the organization of the competition by the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) has nothing to do with politics. That the grassroots football game is to grow the talents in Anambra State and also help the state establish a formidable football team that will not only compete in the state but also in the national league.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, the Deputy Speaker of the 8th Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chukwuma Pius Okoye and a host of other dignitaries were at the Awka Township Stadium to witness the opening match between Awka FC and Ogidi FC which ended 1-0 in favour of Ogidi FC.

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