By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Anambra State Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA), Wednesday, appealed to traders neither to engage in physical fight or injure any opposing player nor teams in the ongoing market cup.
The President General, ASMATA, Chief Humphrey Anuna made the appeal at Onitsha, the commercial nerve of Africa, after Nkwo Market, Umunze team drew 1-1 with Odera Market, Awka in their second Group A match.
Anuna, while enjoining participants to play by the rules and in the spirit of sportsmanship, maintained that the competition was not a do or die affair but an initiative aimed at getting traders physically feat and healthy.
"We want injury free participants, especially in the football event. It should not be a do or die affairs but in a brotherly manner. Don't harm any opposing player, the goal post is there for you to score as many goals as you can with all your strengths.
"Football is a very popular sport played by both children and adults, competitively or simply for fun. It requires a wide range of physical, technical, tactical and psychological qualities, adjusted to the demands of the sporting engagement for our healthy living," he stated.
According to him, the traders sports competition is featuring football, tennis, table tennis, draught and Ncho are on-going across the state with full support of the state government.
Two teams will qualify for the semis from the two groups. Meanwhile, Ajasa Market, Onitsha in another match played at the same Achebe stadium saw Ajasa defeating Old Motor Dealers, Obosi 2-0 in the Group B.