Soludo Inaugurates Anambra Traders Sports Tournament LOC

By Ikemefuna Asika

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has inaugurated the 27-man Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 2024 edition of Anambra State Traders Competition.

The inauguration took place at the Anambra State Market Traders Association (ASMATA) Secretariat, Onitsha.

The LOC has Patrick-Estate Onyedum, Chairman of Anambra State Sports Development Commission and Chief Humphrey Anuna, President General of ASMATA as Co-Chairmen.

Soludo who was represented by his Special Advertiser on Trade and Commerce, Everist Uba, urged traders across the state to participate in the competition.

He called on the elderly ones engage in indoor games and to release their apprentices who were still athletic to take part in football.

The governor said he hoped that this year’s edition would be more competitive as he had doubled the prize money for top performers in the various events.

On his part, Anambra Sports Development Commission Chairman, Estate Patrick Onyedum said the competition was in realisation of the fact that traders had a large population of men and women who have interest in sports.

He said the athletes would compete for glory and money on behalf of their markets while calling on the various market leaders to present their real members to engender social interaction and spirit of sportsmanship among them.

He disclosed that the traders’ sports competitions would hold from October to the first week of December.

“Mr Governor is passionate about traders, he started this last year and at that final, he promised to make it bigger and better, so the winners this time will get double the amount they got last year.

Also speaking, ASMATA PG, Chief Humphrey Anuna commended Gov. Soludo for his commitment towards the welfare of traders in the state including their physical fitness.

Anuna assured that traders would be fully mobilised for the sporting events and that this year would witness huge improvement over the first edition.

Six subcommittees including,Technical, Administration, Finance/Mobilisation, Venue/Facility/Security, and Media/Publicity Ceremonial/Protocol were also constituted and Inaugurated.

The event was attended by many people including the new Director of Sports in the Anambra State Sports Development Commission, Emeka Obidima, Chairman SWAN Anambra State Chapter, Patrick Chimezie Anaso amongst others.

The events to be featured in the competition include Football, Tennis, Table Tennis, Draught and Ncho/Ayo.