85 markets set for Anambra traders sports competition

The Anambra State Traders Sports Competition will kick off across the seven market zones in Anambra on October 18, with 85 markets taking part in five events, including football, tennis, table tennis, drafts, and NCHO.

A statement by the organisers says the competition would give traders in the state the opportunity to showcase their sports skills on the field of play as well as improve their physical and psychological well-being.

The statement, made available to newsmen on Tuesday, was jointly signed by Patrick-Estate Onyedum, Chairman of the Anambra State Sports Development Commission, and Humphrey Anuna, President General, Amalgamated Market Traders Association.

It said the sum of N10 million was up for grabs by winners and that there would be special prizes for teams and players who had exemplary performance.

According to the organisers, winners of the football event will go home with N3 million, N2 million, and N1 million as first, second, and third prizes.

“Winners in Table Tennis, Tennis, Draft, and NCHO events will get a reward of N500,000, N300,000, and N200,000, respectively.

“Our brothers and sisters in the markets will not be playing for leisure this time; they have the opportunity to play to entertain themselves and also smile home with good prize money.

“We are going to have football champions and high kings of Draught,” they said.

The organisers said there would also be raffle draws where lovers of sports would win various prizes, including television sets, fridges, generators, washing machines, bicycles, motorcycles, tricycles, and shuttle buses.

They said the games would be played at Awka Stadium, Ikpeazu Stadium, Onitsha, Achebe Stadium, Rojenny Stadium, Oba, Ekwulobia Township Stadium, and other sporting centres in the state.

“The competition will start with zonal eliminations on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, where the various market zones will determine their respective champions, who will in turn represent them at the state finals.

“The state finalists will thereafter compete for places in the semifinals, where the gold, silver, and bronze winners will emerge.

“Our sports-loving governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, is expected to lead the draws and perform the symbolic handover of prizes to winners during the closing ceremony,” the organisers said.