Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra has commended Rommy Ezeonwuka, the Proprietor of Rojenny Tourists and Games Village, for his contributions to sports development in the state.
Obiano gave the commendation at the kick off of the Obiano Unity Cup Football Competition at the Rojenny Stadium, Oba, on Saturday.
He described the partnership between the foremost sports facility investor and the state government as fruitful and enriching.
Obiano said talents that would be discovered from the Unity Cup championship would make up the core of the state’s football team under formation.
He said members of other ethnic groups resident in the state were involved in the competition to promote unity.
“I want to thank the owner of this facility for the contributions he has made to sports development in Anambra; it has been wonderful and fruitful.
“The discovered talents from this competition will form the nucleus of the Anambra football team that will be formed next year in partnership with some private sector interests.
“We have been doing well in other events like Karate, Kungfu and Chess nationally and we represented Nigeria in international championships, so it is not just in football alone unlike before,” he said.
In her remarks, Uju Nwogu, Commissioner for Sports and Youth Entrepreneurship, said the place of football as a unifying factor in the country could not be overemphasised.
Nwogu described the competition as a harnessing ground for future national stars and thanked Obiano for approving the championship.
“May I most sincerely thank our host, Ezeonwuka , chief executive of Rojenny Tourists and Games Village, for the wonderful work he is doing.
“To our young athletes, I wish you all the best and urge you to compete in fairness, brotherly love and sportsmanship,’’ she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 118 football teams from communities and institutions across Anambra are taking part in the championship.
Awka Etiti from Idemili North defeated Ojoto in Idemili South 3-2 in the thrilling opening encounter.
NAN also reports that the organisers have set aside N1 million, N500,000, N300,000 and N200,000 for the first, second, third and fourth placed teams respectively.