By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The Chairman, Anambra State Sports Development Commission, Mr Patrick-Estate Onyedum, has urged traders to show commitment and dedication on the ongoing traders competition and sporting generally so as to benefit more on governor Chukwuma Soludo's various sporting agenda.
Onyedum, who gave the admonition at the draws for the State finals stage of traders competition held in Awka, the State capital, explained that raffle draws would be held on the final day of the event where people stood to win shuttle bus, generator, television, fans and others.
Onyedum, who was represented at the event by Faith Okwonna, a Director in the Commission, urged the state finalists to take their fixtures seriously, noting that that the total prize money for the competition was N10 million.
Also speaking, Chief Evarist Uba, the Special Adviser on Trade and Markets to governor Chukwuma Soludo, described the ongoing traders competition as parts of the government agenda to foster interactivity, social harmony and better well being in the state.
He assured the traders that the sporting event would enhance their health and wellbeing aside the financial benefits accruing to it.
According to him, a total of 90 markets are currently participating on the games which included football, Tennis, Table Tennis, Draught and Ncho presently at zonal eliminations in eight centres.
He added that governor Soludo would witness the finals of the competition scheduled to hold at the Awka Township Stadium on Nov. 26, even as he commended the Anambra Sports Development Commission and Anambra State Amalgamated Market Traders Association (ASMATA) for the level of organisational finesse they had exhibited so far.
"I encourage you to work had for your victory in the competition, Mr Governor is aware of it, indeed he will be at the stadium on the closing ceremony with members of his cabinet to see the finals.
"This competition is another opportunity for our people in the markets to benefit from the robust sports development agenda of Mr Governor," he said.
Also speaking, the President General, ASMATA, Chief Humphrey Anuna, commended the teams that made it from the zones, while urging market leaders to show more commitment by creating awareness and mobilising their members as rewards for winners were huge.
In the football draws, Odera Market Awka will play with Iron Dealers Market, Atani in the first Group A game on Nov 4 while Nkwo Umunze Market will square up against Odera Market on Nov. 8 in the second game.
The third Group A match will be between Iron Dealers Market Atani and Nkwo Umunze market at the Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium Nov. 11.
In the Group B centre scheduled for Godwin Achebe Stadium, Fegge, Ajasa Market Onitsha will Old Motor Parts play with Obosi on Nov. 4 while New Motor Parts Nnewi and Ajase Market Onitsha will face each other on Nov. 8.
Old Motor Parts Obosi vs New Motor Parts Nnewi will play on Nov. 11 to decide semi finalists from the group.
The semi final games would be held on Nov. 19.
In the Draught event scheduled for Nov. 23, Uchenna Ezenwafor of Etewa Market Ekwulobia will play with Ifeanyi Osunwa of Arthur Eze Building Market and the game play with Daraebo Titus of Electric Market, Obosi.
Raphael Okoye of Plastic Market Ogbunike will decide the second finalist with Ezeugwu Chukwujekwu of Bida Market, Onitsha in the game scheduled for Amawbia Sports Club.
In Table Tennis, Okafor Ikenna of Eke Amawbia will play Okoli Nnaemeka of Nkwo Umunze while Ndudi Ifinwa AMSPDA, Nnewi and Olie Onochie of New Tyre Nkpor will fight for a place in the final.
In the Tennis event, Obidike Emeka of Odera Market Awka will step to the courts against Ezeobi Oliver of Etewa market, Ekwulobia.
In the second game, Fidelis Anierobi AMSPDA Nnewi will play with Kenechukwu Sixtus Building Materials, Ogbunike on Nov.23.
Ncho or Ayo event will be between Okoye Emeka of Eke Amawbia and Ibegwa Micheal of New Motor Spare Obosi while Arinze Nwafor of Odekpe Market will play with Nzekwa Esther of Nkwo Umunze on Nov. 25.
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*- Immediate and total ceasefire by all parties on the subject matter.*
*- An end to all incendiary and inflammatory comments either directly by the parties involved or through their proxies.*
*- The need for sports activities to continue in the state without this type of avoidable face off now or in the future.*
*- A return to status quo including withdrawal of ban and threats by the parties concerned.*
*- Roundtable dialogue between parties to reopen the symbiotic relationship and amicable communication channel between the Sports Commission and FA.*
SWAN expresses its willingness to mediate in the impasse with a view to finding amicable resolution of vexed issues.
Lastly, SWAN appeals for an amicable and harmonious administrative environment for progressive development of sports and warns against actions or tirades capable of undermining growth in the Anambra sports sector.