By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Not less than ₦10,000,000 have been mapped out for the maiden edition of Anambra State Traders Sports competition which kicked off on Wednesday.
The competition, featuring football, tennis, table tennis, draft and ncho, was targeted at given traders in Anambra markets opportunity to showcase their sports skills on the field of play as well as improve their physical, and psychological well being.
A statement signed by the Chairman, Anambra State Sports Development Commission, Patrick-Estate Onyedum and the President General, Amalgamated Market Traders Association, Chief Humphrey Anuna, added that the competitors would also win other prizes.
"At last count, about 85 markets have indicated interest to take part in the competition and the draws for fixtures have been done. Winners of the football event will go home with three million naira, two million naira and one million naira as first, second and third prizes. Winners in Table Tennis, Tennis, Draft and Ncho events will get a reward of five hundred thousand Naira, three hundred thousand Naira and two hundred thousand Naira respectively.
"Our brothers and sisters in the market will not be playing for leisure this time, they have the opportunity to play to entertain themselves and also smile home with good prize money. We are going to have football champions and high kings of draught. There will also be raffle draws where traders, lovers of sports and the entire ndi Anambra will win different prizes including plasma television, fridges, generators, watching machines, bicycles, motorcycles, tricycles and shuttles bus.
"The tickets will be on sale in the various markets and public places during the competition. Anambra people are encouraged to come out at the venues which include Awka Township Stadium, Awka, Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium, Onitsha, Godwin Achebe Stadium, Fegge, Rojenny Stadium, Oba, Ekwulobia Township Stadium, Ekwulobia, Otuocha Stadium, Aguleri to celebrate the rich talent of of our market people.
"The competition will start with Zonal eliminations on Wednesday October 18 where the various market zones will determine their respective champions who will in turn represent them at the state finals. The state finalists will thereafter compete for places in the semi finals where the gold, silver and bronze winners will emerge. The competition is expected to end on Sunday Nov. 26 with final draws for the raffle tickets in an elaborate closing Ceremony.