Onitsha Sports Club Commend Two Members For Court Renovation

…As Another Member Marks Birthday

By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha

The popular Onitsha Sports Club, Anambra State, Monday commended two of her members Chief Ekene Obieri and Chief Benjamin Azubuike Okoye for renovation of the courts, four and two of the sports club.

Even as a Chieftain of the club, Chief Godwin Ubaka Okeke (GUO) celebrated his 74 years birthday in grand style with the wife and club members

Reacting on the court he renovated, Chief Ekene Obieri, said that he emulated those who have contributed to the development of the sports club to reconstruct the lawn tennis court four that has become weak, as part of his contribution.

“I benefit from what others did to the club and so decided to work on the court as sports help to live healthy. I invited my friend to come and commission the project as we work together,” he hinted.

Speaking, Chief Benjamin Azubuike Okoye, who renovated court two expressed satisfaction with the commissioning saying that the members of Onitsha Sports Club, love lawn tennis.

“I enjoyed tennis, my love for the game motivated me to renovate the court. I got injured during the game due to the rough faces of this place, so I decided to take up and renovate it.

“There is nothing like sports, the advantages are much, it helps health, it is what one can keep doing, it keeps you moving, look at the celebrant, Chief Okeke, because he does exercise, some of his mates have gone, it is good we invest in sports, “he posited.

In his own speech, Chief Chijioke Maduka, friend to Obieri, said that, “My friend told me about this commissioning and so I decided to do it, a lot is involved, millions, doing something like this, one cannot be checking the money spent as long as you did it for charity.

“One cannot take sporting away, everyone wants to be fit, nobody likes to just collapse and die, everyone without sporting can start today, it is very important,” he advised.

“My friend and I have known for 15 years, I came to commission this great thing he did, we support sports, if I’m not here,I’m at other places like Recreation club, Elite club,” he stated

In his response, Chief Okeke thanked God for keeping him up to this day and assured that his children will renovate one of the lawn tennis courts in no distance time as part of their contribution towards the development of the club.

He said that his birthday celebration was an annual event hinting that he chose to celebrate it in the Sports club because of the love members have for him on return from overseas after a medical treatment.

The transport magnet hinted that by next year it would be a double celebration as his marriage would be golden jubilee plus that he will be 75years and his wife 70 yearrs.

Speaking at the occasion, the President of the club, Chief Jude Okoye, expressed satisfaction with the duo activities, stating that sports assisted to be healthy.

The President described the birthday celebrant, Chief Okeke, as one of the elders and pillars of the club that members emulate.

“As an octogenarian, we are looking up to them, we just started, we asked God to reach to octogenarians.I believe without sports he cannot get to this age, once u are identified, the next thing is to relax ,It helps you to move very well, it helps a lot,” he stated

On whether Government can assist in sporting activities he posited that sporting is an expensive thing, that cannot be left for an individual alone.

“it is not what an individual can do alone, even the western’ football, everything cannot work without the government, we want government to come and help us, we have the foundation, we want them to come and help, “he pleaded.

Earlier, the chairman on the occasion and chairman, Board of Trustees, (BOT), Chief Gabriel Menakaya Omemgboji, hinted that he has played lawn tennis for 11 years before resolving to go on road walk.

“I can tell you at my age I go for road walk every day for about 46 minutes.On Mondays one and half hours . I encourage everybody to do that at least 90 minutes exercise every day, eat healthily, if possible,avoid alcohol,he advised”.

Pic 1. Shows the couple cutting cake .

Pic 2.shows Mr Okeke commissioning one of the courts