By Juliana Nwachukwu
In his bid to queue in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s healthy living for the traders in the state, the President General (PG), Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, ASMATA, Chief Humphrey Anuna on September 29, flagged off the women traders football competition.
The first ever competition, which took place at Godwin Achebe Stadium Fegge Onitsha attracted sportsmen, women, traders, stakeholders, among others.
Speaking on the competition, the ASMATA PG, Anuna, said that it is in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s target for healthy living by being involved in physical exercise and to involve women in all activities performed by men for them to feel belonged and not isolated.
Anuna said that the sponsor of the female competition, Archbishop Onyeka Ezekwesi, Chief Executive Officer, (CEO), Pineleaf Estate and Properties Ltd, had because of his love for sports and need for exercise, accepted to make the traders happy by the sponsorship.
He paid glowing tribute to Archbishop Nzekwesi for his philanthropy, saying that he has changed the life of scores for the better through his Pineleaf Estate business as the poor were made to be rich and tenants turned to landlords.
The ASMATA boss who has restored peace in all markets in the state, explained further that from the football competition talented women could be fished out to represent the state and Nigeria.
The kick off of the ball was performed by the ASMATA woman leader, Mrs Grace N. Okonkwo, who was accompanied to the center of the field by the officiating referee and linesmen which preceded the commencement of the soccer competition between Aguata and Oyi zones.
According to a state coach/ASMATA coaches’ coordinator for the female soccer competition, Chukwuma Fidelis, the traders were divided into seven zones and each zone has A and B that are also subdivided and the winner of the trophy will smile to the bank with #1million, runner up gets #500,000 while the third position gets #300,000.
The essence of the competition which he said would end in October, is to fish out talents to represent the state in national competition.
Contributing, the coordinator, ASMATA female football competition and Aguata Zonal Chairman, Chief Ezeigwe Christopher, said that the competition is aimed at bringing women together.
He added that it will be a continuous competition according to the ASMATA PG and paid glowing tribute to the PG for organizing such a competition.
The Ogbaru Zonal Chairman of ASMATA, Chief David Obidike, noted that the essence of the soccer was for women to feel inclusive in sporting activities even as he commended the ASMATA PG for his role in organizing the competition.
Obidike said that through the PG’s efforts so many women have been involved in sporting activities and expressed optimism that talented ones would be fished out to be trained to represent the state.
Eric Uwaoma, Onitsha Zonal Chairman, expressed satisfaction with the competition, adding that it was the brain child of Governor Soludo who vowed to involve women in all activities.
“We will still vote for Soludo in the coming November 8 Governorship election because of his achievements in all spheres of the economy, including sports,” he maintained.
Juliana is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
