No fewer than 350 young footballers are participating in a screening exercise to select Anambra State’s male and female teams for the forthcoming Southeast Zonal Eliminations of the Intermediate Games.
The screening exercise was officially declared open on Friday at the Awka Township Stadium by the Anambra State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Honourable Patrick Agha Mba.
Also present at the event were the Chairman of the Anambra State Football Association, Chief Chikelue Iloenyosi, the Director of Sports, Mr. Emeka Obidimma, and other sports officials.
Speaking at the event, Mba said the players, drawn from senior secondary schools and sports academies across the state, represent the future of football in Anambra.
He reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration to developing strong football teams in both the male and female categories, as well as other sporting disciplines capable of excelling at regional and national competitions.
The commissioner commended Governor
Chukwuma Soludo for his continued investment in sports development and urged the young athletes to remain disciplined, dedicated, and committed to both their education and sporting careers.
According to him, the screening marks the beginning of the state’s preparations for the Southeast Zonal Eliminations, scheduled to take place in Umuahia, Abia State, ahead of the Intermediate Games in Lagos later this year.
Mba charged the coaches to ensure that only the most talented players emerge from the exercise, expressing confidence that Anambra would produce outstanding representatives for the Southeast.
He also appreciated Governor Soludo for providing the leadership and support necessary for sports development in the state, assuring that Anambra would continue to achieve success in the sector.
In a symbolic gesture, the commissioner led the players in singing birthday songs for the wife of the governor, Mrs. Nonye Soludo, who marked her birthday on Friday.
The screening exercise features about 280 male players and 70 female players, aged between 16 and 19 years.
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that
the Southeast Zonal Eliminations will hold in Umuahia, Abia State, in August, while the Intermediate Games are scheduled to take place in Lagos later this year.
