ASMATA PG Flags Off Maiden Female Football Competition
By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha
In his bid to queue in line with Governor Charles Soludo’s healthy living for the traders in the state, the President General, PG, Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Trader’s Association, ASMATA, Chief Humphrey Anuna on 29th Sept, flagged off the women traders football competition.
The first ever competition took place at Godwin Achebe Stadium Fegge Onitsha
attracted sportsmen, women, traders, stakeholders, among others.
Speaking on the competition, the ASMATA PG, Anuna, revealed that it is in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s target for healthy living by being involve in physical exercise and to involve women in all activities perform by men for them to feel belong and not isolated.
Anuna disclosed that the sponsor of the female competition, Archbishop Onyeka Ezekwesi, Chief Executive Officer, (CEO), Pineleaf Estate and Properties Ltd, has because of his love for sports and need for exercise, accepted to make the traders happy by the sponsorship.
He paid glowing tribute to Archbishop Nzekwesi for his philanthropy revealing that he has changed the life of scores for the better through his Pineleaf Estate business as the poor were made to be rich and tenants turned to landlords.
The ASMATA boss who has restored peace in all markets in the state, explained further that from the football competition talented women could be fished out to represent the state and Nigeria.
The kick off of the ball was performed by the ASMATA women leader, Mrs Grace N. Okonkwo.who was accompanied to the center of the field by officiating referee and linesmen which preceded the commencement of the soccer competition between Aguata and Oyi zones.
According to a state coach/ASMATA coaches’ coordinator for the female soccer competition, Chukwuma Fidelis, the traders were divided into seven zones and each zone has A and B that are also subdivided and the winner of the trophy will smile to the bank with #1million, runner up gets #500,000 while the third position gets #200,000 or #300,000.
The essence of the competition which he said would end in October, is to fish out talents to represent the state in national competition.
Contributing, the coordinator, ASMATA female football competition and Aguata zonal chairman, Chief Ezeigwe Christopher, disclosed that the competition is aimed at bringing women together.
He added that it will be a continuous competition according to the ASMATA PG and paid glowing tribute to the PG for organizing such a competition.
The Ogbaru zonal chairman of ASMATA, Chief David Obidike, stated that the essence of the soccer was for women to feel inclusive in sporting activities even as he commended the ASMATA PG for his role in organizing the competition.
Obidike revealed that through the PG’s efforts so many women have been involved in sporting activities and expressed optimism that talented ones would be fished out to be trained to represent the state.
Eric Uwaoma, Onitsha zonal chairman, expressed satisfaction with the competition, adding that it was the brain child of Governor Chukwuma Soludo who vowed to involve women in all activities.
“We will still vote for Soludo in the coming 8 November governorship election because of his achievements in all spheres of the economy, including sports,” he maintained.
Pic shows ASMATA PG being introduced to the players
