Sports | Okwelle women football league: My aim was to do something different - IMSAA Boss, Umunnakwe reveals motivation
Okwelle women football league: My aim was to do something different - IMSAA Boss, Umunnakwe reveals motivation
The General Manager of Imo Synage and Advertisement Agency (IMSAA) Honourable Chibuzor Umunnakwe has revealed the reason why he introduced the Okwelle women football league, The statesman newspaper reports.
The maiden edition of the tournament which was organized by the Okwelle progressive youth and held at the Okwelle stadium in Onu Imo local government was introduced and sponsored by Hon Umunnakwe who happens to be a son of the soil.
In an exclusive interview with the Statesman Newspaper sports desk at the City school training pitch, Owerri in Imo state, Umunnakwe revealed reasons behind the brain child of the tournament, he said;
“Apart from being a guru in advertising which i have practiced for years, I am also passionate about football though I didn’t play football at the top level during my youth days in Lagos but football has always been part of my passion.
At the end of every year back here in Okwelle my home town, we use to have football tournament organized for the male by the Okwelle progressive youth and most times the price money might be too small, it could be N10,000 Naira or almost nothing and for this reason I decided do something different by introducing women football tournament which gave birth to the Okwelle women football league.
This is the first of it’s kind, nobody has ever thought about organizing women football for Yuletide season. It is my brain child and first of its kind here in Okwelle in Onu Imo Local government or any other place in Nigeria, You can verify. “ He stated
He went further to reveal how tough it was giving the little complications that comes with dealing with the female gender and the need to have a well planned outing with the help of the Community youths.
“Ranging from making provisions for the jerseys, marking of the pitch, providing the nets for goal post, providing the balls, logistics, medical bills and equipments, and above all the price money for the tournament it wasn’t that easy but To God be the glory, we pulled it off and it was a huge success story.” He said.
Statesman sports desk learnt that the Tournament was made up of four teams namely; Umunnakwe Angels, Dikko United, Abbas Ladies FC and Chinonye Babes. and it was played like a league format to determine the winner.
The price money for the winner being the first price was N100,000 Naira, the first runner up was N50,000, the second runner up was N30,000 and the last of them was N20,000.
“We made sure every partaker of the tournament went home with something and the jersey was given to the players to go home with as participant Souvenir.
Some of this girls you see training now where the best of the two final teams selected by scout for further training and development. This is the personal task i have given myself, so it does not just end with me just organizing the tournament, but also to generate something out of it my positioning this young stars on a part to success.
Having successfully hosted the maiden edition, the next edition will be bigger which will happen at the end of this year 2023.” Umunnakwe added.
The selected 10 players has been camped for further training while all needed welfare for camping has been provided.
Our correspondent witnessed Coaches and scouts from different female clubs such as Heartland Queens, First Mahi FC and so on who where on ground to scout for potential players.
“ I do this because of the love I have for my community and for sports. I believe that in everything we do if we put more effort God will intervene and bless our efforts. One day this young girls will become stars and they will remember the society that made them.” Umunnakwe concluded.
