By Ikenna Nwokedi 

The Chairman of Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Hon. Barr. Casmir Nwafor has stated his intension to raise a strong football team that will feature at the annual Channels Kids Cup later in the year.

Hon. Nwafor stated this on Wednesday, 1st January 2025 on the occasion of the 2024/25 grand finale of the Nanka Champions League played at the Neros Sports complex, Nanka, Anambra State.

The LG Chairman disclosed that Sports development is part of his mission for the local government geared towards uniting the 16 communities domiciled in the LGA comprising of Ajalli, Amaetiti, Amaokpala, Awa, Awgbu, Nanka, Ndikelionwu, Ndiokolo, Ndiokpalaeze, Ndiokpaleke, Ndiowu, Ndiukwuenu, Omogho, Okoh, Ufuma and Okpeze.

Hon. Nwafor stressed that as Sports is a tool for social integration, it will not only foster unity but also an avenue for the teeming youths and teenagers of the LGA to showcase their God's given talent, skills and make a career through sports participation which is a million dollar industry. He informed that a sports committee has been set up with the purpose of organizing sporting competitions beginning with an Under-17 football championship for secondary and primary schools expected to hold in the month of February 2025.

Hon. Nwafor also informed that the upcoming U-17 football tournament will aid the local government to raise a team that will represent the LGA at the state level and in furtherance prepare to feature in the Channels Kids Cup at Lagos State later in the year.

Hon. Nwafor said: "Sports development is one of the pillars of my mandate as sports is a million dollar industry through which we can harness the talents of our teeming youths through regular sporting programmes that will enable us discover, nurture and showcase them to the globe and as well contain social vices by channelling their energy to meaningful use.

"To this effect, we have set up a sports committee that will be saddled with the responsibility of organizing sporting programme starting from this February were we intend to hold an Under-17 football championship at the primary and secondary school level. It is our intention to use the championship to produce a strong football team that will represent us at the state level and move further by featuring at the Channels Kids Cup later in the year," Nwafor said.

Hon. Nwafor called for support from various stakeholders, well meaning individuals and sports afficionados towards ensuring that sports is taken to the next level in the local government level.