By Marvellous Ezenwa
Awka All Stars, a veterans’ football club from Awka, have emerged champions of the maiden Sports Week organised by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Anambra State Chapter.
The veterans secured the top spot after an entertaining one-day 5-a-side cage football competition, with Police FC finishing as runners-up, while the host SWAN FC settled for third position. Anambra State Football Association (AnSFA) FC, which was billed to participate in the competition, could not make an appearance due to last-minute developments.
The Sports Week was not limited to football, as members also competed in recreational games including draught, ludo and whot.
Former SWAN Secretary, Chucks Ugokwe, emerged the standout performer in draught after defeating all his opponents in the non-rated competition. In the ludo event, former SWAN Vice President, Chigozie Chukwuleta, dominated proceedings, while Chimezie Anaso emerged the leading performer in the whot competition.
The event attracted the participation of several SWAN members, including Zikem Asika, who led the football team, Marvelous Ezenwa, Uche Ndeke, Ifeanyi Okonkwo, Cyril Nwoye, Okechukwu Onuegbu, Emma Ndukuba and Abuchi Onwumelu, while veteran journalist Tony Okafor also made a special appearance.
The maiden Sports Week, themed “Sports for Peace and Economic Empowerment,” received support from the Anambra State Police Command, Directorate of State Services (DSS), AnSFA and Awka All Stars FC, reflecting the importance of collaboration among sports stakeholders and security agencies.
In his goodwill message, Patrick-Agha Mba commended SWAN for creating a friendly and engaging platform that brought sports lovers, journalists and security agencies together. He said the Anambra State Government under Governor Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo was committed to transforming sports from mere entertainment into a viable industry and a major avenue for youth empowerment and economic development.
Mba further praised SWAN for its contributions to the promotion and development of sports in the state, assuring that the ministry under his leadership would continue to provide the association with the necessary attention and support to enable it function effectively.
Chairman of Awka All Stars, Ikechukwu Nwekwe, popularly known as JeluoAwka, said the club would continue to support programmes and initiatives that promote sports development, particularly football. He also appealed to Governor Soludo to provide adequate funding for the state-owned Solution FC to enable the club compete effectively and secure promotion from the Nigeria National League (NNL) to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
Nwekwe congratulated SWAN on the successful maiden Sports Week and encouraged the association to sustain programmes that promote friendship, healthy competition, physical fitness and peaceful coexistence.
Also speaking, AnSFA Chairman, Chikelue Iloenyosi, expressed delight at partnering with SWAN for the programme, stressing that greater collaboration among stakeholders would contribute significantly to the growth and development of sports in Anambra State.
Earlier, SWAN Anambra Chairman, Chimezie Anaso, expressed appreciation to all partners, participants, members and supporters whose contributions helped make the maiden Sports Week a success.
