By Ikenna Nwokedi, PhD
Jimbaz FC of Ihiala on Sunday, 5th December 2021 emerged as champions of the maiden edition of the Remmy Uche Soccer Challenge Cup. The football fiesta which commenced on the 30th of October 2021 saw a total of 16 teams across the state taking part in the competition.
The final match played at the Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium Onitsha saw the Ihiala based side seeing off Remmy Uche FC by a solitary strike scored with virtually the last kick of the game to clinch the coveted prize of N1.5million and the trophy while Remmy Uche FC settled for the second prize of N1Million. In the third and fourth place playoffs earlier in the day, Akuchukwu FC defeated Degodz FC 3-0 via penalty shootouts after a stalemate in regulation time to take home the sum of N500,000.
The soccer challenge cup bankrolled by Umudioka born multi-millionaire businessman and real estate developer, Chief Remigius Uchenna Anyadike saw other individual awards such as Most Valuable Player (MVP) awarded to Michael Ekwunobi of Akuchukwu FC. The Best Behaved Team accolade went to Jimbaz FC, Best Goalkeeper of the competition went to Miracle Ukadike of Remmy Uche FC while the Highest Goalscorer Gong went to Ngozi Oluka of Jimbaz FC who scored a total of 6 goals in the competition.
In his interaction with sportswriters, the sponsor Chief Remigius Uchenna Anyadike stated that his passion for the game and the will to provide a platform for the youths in the state to showcase their God’s given talent is the motivation behind the competition. Anyadike posited that the competition has come to stay and will be an annual event in the football program of the state.
Reacting to the development, the Vice Chairman, Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA), Sir Engr. Victor Aniekwena described the competition as the right step in the right direction aimed at bringing the youths together, nurturing them as well as providing the right platform to showcase and market them. He eulogized Chief Anyadike for his magnanimity by way of giving back to society using such competition as a platform, he called on other public-spirited individuals and lovers of the game to emulate the kind gesture of Chief Anyadike.
Also speaking, the Chair of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), Mr. Austin Kelechukwu disclosed that the competition is nothing short of entertainment, he commended the Benefactor for giving him the platform to serve as the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, he also said that the feedback gotten by the participants show that it’s about the best competition that they have participated in so far. Also speaking, Barr. Odi Ikpeazu described the competition as well organized and encouraging aimed at promoting football development in Onitsha and the state at large. He lamented the poor state of the Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium saying that something urgent needs to be done to the facility to give it a facelift.
