S’East group floats sports competition to promote unity, peace

A group under the aegis of Collective Hope And Light-hearted Youths Empowerment Association has launched a football competition in the five South-East states of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi.

The group President, Chukwuemeka Kenneth, during the launching on Monday, stated that the primary aims and objectives of the competition were to restore peace and unity to the embattled old South-Eastern Nigeria.

Kenneth also said that efforts were being put in place by the Local Organising Committee to make the tournament achieve its desired objectives of uniting the people of the sister states.

Also speaking, the LOC Chairman, Nkado Onyebuchi, who emphasised the importance of sports and its unifying force, said the Eastern Unity Tournament is open for sponsorship.

Nkado, who solicited sponsorship and support of well-meaning Igbo sons and daughters regretted that the first edition could not see the light of the day because of the lean resources to fund the competition.

Appealing for sponsorship and support, Nkado said, “It is true that we didn’t have much finances to run our first edition. It later resulted in the competition suffering a major setback.

“We have so many things already put in place before the kick-off date but due to our limited funds, we were unable to reach there. Through this tournament, some hidden talents would be discovered from those youths living in the rural hinterlands.”

He further explained that every football club in the former Eastern region of Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and  Rivers states are eligible for participation.