BY SAB OSUJI

 

Ifeanyi Ekwueme, a former Super Eagles winger and current Sporting Director of Enyimba FC, Aba, has graciously offered to sponsor the 2024 Owerri Archdiocesan Catholic Priests Football Competition billed to kick off on July 29, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.

The former Polonia Warsaw of Poland winger, in a rare demonstration of extraordinary desire to see football developed at all levels, and to ensure sound physical fitness of the priests in line with their spiritual strenght, is embarking on the sponsorship as part of his grassroot football development program.

Rev. Fr Patrick Amadi, the Archbishop, Owerri Archdiocesan Director of  Sports, in a statement disclosed that the tournament has received the blessing of Most Rev Lucius Ugorji.

"The tournament is geared towards enhancing the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual balancing and fitness of the priests", he said.

He further informed that "for an effective and organized tournament, the sports organizers and the Deans have put in place a proper plan to ensure the tournament cuts across different deaneries in the Archdiocese".

Rev Fr Amadi also explained that the Deans, on behalf of the deaneries, have picked from the secret box teams to compete and who to compete against.

The final of the competition has been billed to hold on  September 9 with all the matches scheduled to hold every Monday with Monday 29 July as kick off date while the semi final will take place on 26 August and 2 September, 2024 respectively.

Winners of the tournament will be rewarded with a cash prize of N200, 000 and a trophy as well as customized jerseys.

Similarly, first runners-up will go home with N150,000 cash prize and customized Jerseys.

Rev Fr  Amadi announced that participating teams will receive appearance fee of N30,000 each through the deans to facilitate their preparations as all matches will by 4pm at the Cathedral field warning that lateness on match days will be sanctioned with a walkover.

He also hinted that other sports like table tennis, badminton, etc might be introduced during the tournament to accommodate other priests, especially the ageing ones.

He thanked the Archbishop for approval and the benefactor, for sponsorship.

“I humbly thank the Archbishop Most Rev. Lucius I. Ugorji for the approval and concern for the healthy living of His priests. Thank you our big Daddy.

“My gratitude goes to Mr Ifeanyi Ekwueme (ex Nigerian player)who chose to single-handedly sponsor this tournament. 

"I pray for a fruitful sports inquiry free tournament”.

        All The Fixtures 
1. Uzoagba Vs Mbutuokahia 29th July
2. Emekuku Vs Oguta 5th August
3. Ogbaku Vs Egbema 12th August
4. Ohaji Vs Owerri 18th August