- Hold victory walk on Friday, Novelty game on Saturday
Worried by dwindling fortune of football talents in Imo State especially in discoveries of budding stars through grassroots football competitions as being done in 80s and 90s, a non governmental organisation under the auspices of Imo Football Legends have shown interest to change the narrative by henceforth sponsoring and organizing primary and secondary schools football competitions.
Messrs Casmir Mbachu and Obinna Obiaka
ex- international footballers who are the Coordinators of the group as they stood in for Mr. Henry Nwosu, MON who’s the Acting President disclosed this in Owerri while briefing Sports Journalists on the activities of the organization.
According to the duo “Imo Football Legends are worried over the state of football in Imo State. Since all us cut our football teeth here we are on a mission to address it through galvanization of grassroot youths football competitions using the Primary and Secondary Schools football competitions as a launch pad.
We’re not going to depend on government, we will use our contacts and goodwill in corporate world to attract sponsorship both from corporate organizations and high profiled individuals and so far, the responses are encouraging,”they assured.
However, they expressed satisfaction at the level of co-operation they are receiving from the State Commissioner of Youth and Sports,Hon. Dan Ogu, the State Director of Sports, Chief Emmanuel Metu and chairman of the state FA, Dr. Amanze Uchegbulam among other stakeholders.
They also stated that among their social responsibilities is to ensure the good welfare packages for their members regretting that most often they are being forgotten by the society they meritoriously served during their heydays as well as offer free constructive and objective advice to the management and technical crew of the state-owned, Heartland FC in the overall interest of the premiership club.
The press briefing which was also honoured by some of their prominent members like Messrs Kevin Owanna( Chairman, Central Working Committee) and Joseph Irechukwu (Financial Secretary) informed of their plans to commence 2 days sensitization programme starting from Friday 17th December, 2021 with Victory Walk starting from Dan Anyiam Stadium to Mbaise Road then back to Whethral Road and on Saturday 18th December, 2021 by 9 am is an intra football competition.
The intra novelty match is made up of Team A and Team B, the Team A will be headed by Uchenna Nwaneri(Lefty) and Innocent Oparanozie (Bazoo) while Team B will be anchored by Tony Nwaigwe and Prince Eleazar Ogbonna( Alumi).
Other old war horses that will display skills and artistry justifying the cliche that old woman can never be a novice in a music she is acquainted with are Kanu Nwankwo, Mobi Oparaku, Legendary Sylvester Oparanozie (Bahama), Goddy Ebomuche, Nicholas Ukadike, Henry NwosA, Joseph Irechukwu, Casmir Mbachu, and others.
