By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
Displaying appreciation and admiration, Chairman of Nkanu East Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State, Hon. Okechukwu Edeh, hosted the Nkanu East football team to a reception in his office in Enugu on Friday.
This was even as the players and the club management commended the Chairman for the support the Council had given to them throughout the soccer season.
The gesture came on the heels of the team’s remarkable performance at the recently concluded Rauf Badamosi Football (RBF) Championship held at Ibagwa-Aka in Igboeze-South Council Area where the team emerged third, winning the princely sum of N10 million.
The team’s triumph was marked by a thrilling win over its Enugu North counterpart in a penalty shootout, after a 3-3 draw within regulation time.
In his remarks, the Chairman, who also doubles as Enugu State chapter Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), said the players’ team spirit, resilience, and commitment were instrumental to their success.
He further congratulated the players and the team’s management for making Nkanu East proud in the tournament, adding that he was confident that they would secure better positions in future tournaments.
Further expressing his delight over the team’s performance and assuring of continued support and motivation, the ALGON Chairman charged them to keep the Council’s flag flying by being good ambassadors wherever they found themselves.
“Your achievement is a testament to your hard work and dedication. I am proud of each and every one of you and I assure you that we will continue to support and motivate you to strive for greatness.
“After today, we will continue to engage on the way forward and I am certain many of you are going places. Our administration will not hesitate to boost your moral and logistic capacities to come back home as first position subsequently,” he added.
As a way of appreciating their hard work and dedication, Hon. Edeh announced a cash prize for the team, stressing that the gesture was a clear indication of his commitment to promoting sports development among young people in the Council in line with the Governor Peter Mbah administration’s bid to make sports a lucrative business in the state.
Decorating the Chairman as well as other state functionaries at the reception with medals, the visibly elated players thanked Hon. Edeh for his unwavering support and motivation which led to the victory at the keenly contested tournament.
Speaking on behalf of the players, the captain, Ogbodo Izuchukwu, said the victory could not have been possible without the right support which served as a morale booster for them to aim for the best.
“We want to thank the Executive Chairman, Hon. Okechukwu Edeh, and the good people of Nkanu East for their support and prayers throughout the tournament. We’re glad that we emerged top 3 in the tournament, and with more support as promised by the Chairman, we will not disappoint as we are poised to participate in national competitions.
“What this grand reception has done was to motivate us to dream higher and continue to make the Local Government proud through our achievements. As we look towards expanded collaboration with the Local Government Council, the Chairman should be assured that we’ll not disappoint in our future outings,” Izuchukwu added.
Meanwhile, the coach, who represented the management of the club, Gloria Ogbonna, expressed gratitude to the Chairman for hosting them and for the opportunity to interact with him.
The former Super Falcons’ player also reaffirmed commitment to the club’s soaring ambitions, expressing optimism that the official support would enable them do more.
