By Amuche Agbo, Abakaliki
The Coordinator of Ekumenyi Development Center, Hon. Ebere Nwogba has said that Izhi football tournament has boosted the unity of Izhi teeming youths.
The Coordinator made this known while addressing journalists at Agaramugo Secondary School, during the Izhi football tournament between Echiaba and Ekumenyi Development Centers in Abakaliki Local Government Area, of the state.
He said that the exercise has been going on smoothly and called on the participants to embraced the spirit of sportsmanship, and stressed the need for the exercise to be made an annual ritual.
He observed that football competition had helped in reducing crimes and criminality in Izhi clan and Ebonyi state in general, while calling all hands to be on deck to champion the course of the exercise.
He commended the match officials for been fair in their dealings and charged the players to displayed their qualities accordingly to attain the set objective.
On his part, the coordinator of Echiaba DC,Hon Elias Igwe represented by his Special Assistant, Comrade Chukwudi Igwe noted that the exercise has improved the unity of Izhi youths stressed that sensitization should be carried out to reach others in the grassroots.
He described Mr speaker, Nwifuru as an exemplary leader, whom he said is a youth friendly and a grassroot mobilizer who have interest of his people at heart.
He assured that izhi people would give him their maximum support in all his political endeavours and called other stakeholders from the clan to queue into the exercise as unity and peace remain an engine for development.
However, the Former Deputy speaker, Ebonyi state House of Assembly, Hon. Fidelis Ogodo described the exercise as a welcome development and charged the participants on professionalism to make the clan proud.
He thanked Mr. speaker, for his endearing legacies recorded in the state and prayed God for longevity of his life and good health as he continues to pilot the affairs of the state.
A coach of Ekumenyi DC, comrade Igwe Chukwudi hinted that the match is wonderful tournament, he urged Mr. Nwifuru to choose the best players to be his football team or established football academy to raise team players capable of challenging other clans in the state and as well as to compete with other countries of the world.
He added that the match has helped to keep youths away from violence and other social vices.
Turning point reports that the match ended goalless while Nnodo DC beats Mbeke DC three over two
