Winners of Akarachi football tournament honoured
Photo: The representatives of Amaimo Ward, winners of the tournament, receiving their money from the organizers of the Akarachi football tournament.
From John Kennedy Uzoma, Owerri
Winners of Mbaike Unity football tournament organized for wards in Mbaitoli and Ikeduru Local Government Areas of Imo State have been honoured with several cash rewards.
Both the champion and the second placed team got additional solar light electric polls to be mounted in their communities.
Amaimo went home with a cash of N1.23m for being champion while Orodo and Ifakala wards smiled home with N830,000 and N630,000 respectively for placing second and third.
Six wards that qualified for the 3rd stage (semi final) in the competition such as Amata, Inyishi, Ezinihitte, Ikembara Ngugo among others recieved the sum of N230,000 each.
The foundation also rewarded both the most valuable goal keeper – Anthony Amarachukwu, highest goal scorer Jonathan Nkemezie and best player with the sum of N80,000 each.
Speaking at the event, the cordinator of the competition, Engr. Obinna Nshirim acknowledged the fact that the competition actually achieved it’s purpose of uniting the communities in the council areas.
Describing the event as promise made and promise fulfilled, the former commissioner for Information noted that throughout the duration of the event, there was no record of any casulties.
He said that the 24 wards that participated in the competition received N50,000 each, adding that those that quarlified to the next level got extra N80,000 while the 6 teams that quarlified for the semi final received extra N100,000.
Engr. Nshirim while congratulating the players and their managers warned them not to fight over the money or allow themselves to be destroyed by it.
While accepting some lapses that may have arisen in the course of trying to have a successful competition, he assured that such lapses and challenges would be tackled during the next tournament, even as stated that the maiden edition has been a huge success to be consolidated upon.
