By Victor Nwegede
The football tournament in Izzi Nation tagged the Izzi Nnodo Football League after the completion of the first way, kicked off its second leg on 10th March 2021.
The National President of Izzi Nnodo Football Association (INFA), Chief Boniface O. Ezzagu explained that the aged long football competition was reactivated to promote a healthy talent display among the youths from the clan under the sponsorship of Speaker Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru (FON).
Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.
He assured players of transparent refereeing, stressing that the league was officially established in the year 2002 and has helped in promoting unity of the Izzi Nation and beyond.
Ezzagu said that the reasons behind the initiation of the tournament were numerous, saying that it had helped in wading off crimes among youths in the society, calling for the continuous support of the well spirited people Izzi land, Ebonyi state and Nigeria at large.
In his words, the team before Ebonyi own league went into extinction produced its three viable players and others who represented the the state in abroad in footballing.
The INFA President extolled the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru (FON) for his recent support which prompted the awoken of the team now in the second leg, and also called other well meaning Izzi people, urging all and sundry to emulate the gesture.
"The league, Izzi Nnodo Football Association started officially in the year 2002 with the aim to promote healthy football and other sports talent among the youths.
“We have it in mind to help the youth discover and showcase their talents, having understood that among the well known players like Kanu Nwankwo, Okocha and many more came from none popular villages but are today celebrate in the whole world.
“It helps also wade off crime in the society because once a mind is positively engaged become free from negative thinking.
“In fact, we have groomed players from local and international leagues as we had three players in Ebonyi Angel before it was dissolved and some of our players had gone for trial abroad in International league.
“It will interest you to know that we have IFA referees who are our official but for the sake of transparency in the ongoing competition employed the services of Ebonyi State Association of Referees as an external body.
“Our greatest challenge was lack of funds to sustain the team. I was footing the expenses alone until 2007 when Edward Nkwegu a.k.a Edon came to our help until 2009 .
“The team continued till 2013 when we became incapacitated, and recently we ran to the Speaker,Rt.Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru who surprised us with the sum of five million naira.
“We have mapped out to award first prize for one million,2nd prize-five hundred and 3rd prize for three hundred thousand naira.
“The fourth prize will go home with two hundred thousand naira and every participated team is going home with consolation prize of fifty thousand naira among the thirteen Development Centers.
“I’m advising our players to be discipline because we have had experiences where external body visited pitch wherever this nature of competition is ongoing to hunt for players and humility is one of the attitude demanded by such opportunity," he stated.
Also speaking, the National President, the Public Relations Officer Izzi Football Association and member of the technical crew of the ongoing competition, Engr. Jonas Ibaki noted that lack of financial support has been the greatest challenge facing the league and appealed for the annual sustenance of the match.
Ibaki said that the sports is one of the ways to advance communal peace with football to bridge disunity in the state.
"The league, Izzi Nnodo Football Association started officially in the year 2002 with the aim to promote healthy football and other sports talent among the youths.
“We have it in mind to help the youth discover and showcase their talents, having understood that among the well known players like Kanu Nwankwo, Okocha and many more came from none popular villages but are today celebrate in the whole world.
“It helps also wade off crime in the society because once a mind is positively engaged become free from negative thinking.
“In fact, we have groomed players from local and international leagues as we had three players in Ebonyi Angel before it was dissolved and some of our players had gone for trial abroad in International league.
“It will interest you to know that we have IFA referees who are our official but for the sake of transparency in the ongoing competition employed the services of Ebonyi State Association of Referees as an external body.
“Our greatest challenge was lack of funds to sustain the team. I was footing the expenses alone until 2007 when Edward Nkwegu a.k.a Edon came to our help until 2009 .
“The team continued till 2013 when we became incapacitated, and recently we ran to the Speaker,Rt.Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru who surprised us with the sum of five million naira.
“We have mapped out to award first prize for one million,2nd prize-five hundred and 3rd prize for three hundred thousand naira.
“The fourth prize will go home with two hundred thousand naira and every participated team is going home with consolation prize of fifty thousand naira among the thirteen Development Centers.
“I’m advising our players to be discipline because we have had experiences where external body visited pitch wherever this nature of competition is ongoing to hunt for players and humility is one of the attitude demanded by such opportunity," he stated.
Also speaking, the National President, the Public Relations Officer Izzi Football Association and member of the technical crew of the ongoing competition, Engr. Jonas Ibaki noted that lack of financial support has been the greatest challenge facing the league and appealed for the annual sustenance of the match.
Ibaki said that the sports is one of the ways to advance communal peace with football to bridge disunity in the state.
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