By Martin Chidi
The chairman of Orlu Local Government Area, Hon (Pst) Chris Mbaire, has assured that his council would assist towards ensuring the successful organization of the maiden edition of the First Bank/Sam Okwaraji Schools Cup Championship.
He made that declaration when the management team, led by Hon Okechukwu Jonas Inegbu, paid him a courtesy call in his office.
Mbaire noted that Orlu was pleased to have produced a football super star like the late Okwaraji who had continued to inspire generations of young footballers even in death. For that he assured of the LGAs total support in making the competition a huge success.
According to him, “We from Orlu Local Government Area are always very happy each time Sam Okwaraji’s name is mentioned. This is because he represented us very well. He was our wonderful football ambassador. Sadly he died suddenly. He would have been the best Nigerian footballer ever, and certainly one of the best in Africa and beyond.
“Now that there is this national football tourney in his honour, there is nothing we can do than to do our best to ensure the successful staging of this event. We are proud of this, we commend the organizers and I am particularly happy this is happening when I am the LGA boss. There is no way this could have been happening without the blessing of Governor Hope Uzodimma and we thank him”.
The chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Hon Okechukwu Jonas Iniegbu thanked the Orlu LGA boss, reassuring him and indeed the people of the state of the organizers commitment on putting together a beautiful inaugural edition of the First Bank/ Sam Okwaraji Schools competition.
In his remarks, the Imo State coordinator, Nigeria Schools Sports Federation, Joseph Achugamonu, thanked Orlu LGA boss and stated that the competition was purely aimed at immortalizing the late Okwaraji and also to encourage school children to emulate his patriotism, discipline and commitment in whatever one is doing.
The Imo Team coach, Emeka Okoronkwo also known as Taribo assured that the state team will strive in her efforts in winning the maiden edition of the tournament.
Other management team members in the visit included Hon Okechukwu Jonas Iniegbu, chairman, LOC, Imo State, First Bank, Sam Okwaraji Schools Cup, Henry Anthony, Secretary, LOC, Joseph Achugamonu, Imo State coordinator, Nigeria Schools Sports Federation, Emeka Okoronkwo, mo Team coach, Ugochukwu Unaegbu – Assistant coach, Ugoeze Ekeanyanwu and Ugo Eze Sylvia Ugojiekwe of IMSUBEB.
