BY: Vitalis Ugoh, Calabar
Youths in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State, (Asari Eso) will ever remain grateful to former Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) for sponsoring a football tournament in his neighborhood.
The tournament named the Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba Football Tournament lasted for ten days from 10th-20th December, 2022.
The event was held in a football practice pitch located opposite his residence which he donated to the youths of the area for this purpose.
The tournament featured youths formed into different teams and drawn from both within and outside the Asari Eso neighborhood.
Speaking during the finals held yesterday between Team Nigeria and Team France, Senator Ndoma-Egba saluted the spirit of sportsmanship and commitment shown by all the players and organizers in the course of the soccer fiesta.
He further added that “you have all vindicated me in the way and manner you have carried on throughout the duration this tournament.
“I am impressed with your attitude and our objectives, which include keeping you united and gainfully occupied while looking out for exceptional talents from amongst you have been substantially achieved”.
He also promised that subsequent editions of the tournament will be bigger and better organized as the maiden edition will serve as a test run.
“All the shortcomings have been noted and will be improved upon next year”.
He donated a trophy and a cash prize of N100,000 to the winners. He further donated the sum of N50,000 to the second placed team while the referees went home with N20,000.
Speaking earlier, the chairman of the organizing committee, Michael Agi expressed the gratitude of the entire youths of the neighborhood to Senator Ndoma-Egba for his gesture in sponsoring the tournament.
He recalled that when they brought the proposal to the Senator, he had promptly approved all their requests and the success recorded was heartwarming to all concerned.
Agi added that the youths were already looking forward to the next edition of the competition and expressed their willingness to always partner with Senator Ndoma-Egba for the overall good of the Asari Eso neighborhood.
