By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Anambra State Chapter of the Sports Writers of Nigeria, (SWAN) has hailed the Anambra Beach Soccer Association (ABSA) for successfully hosting the second round edition of the Nation Beach Soccer League.

The SWAN Chairman in the state, Patrick Anaso, made the commendation at the end of the second round of the league held at the Nnewi High School Beach Soccer Arena.

He described beach soccer as a natural and immensely entertaining brand of football, saying that the association had done well to attract the national competition to the state within two years of its formation.

Anaso said: “It was impressive that ABSA did not only raise a state team known as Anambra Beach Soccer Warriors but have been able to midwife to the final four of the last leg of the national league scheduled for Kaduna later in the year.

“I must say that we, the body of sports writers are happy with the activities of Anambra Beach Soccer Association, from the blues, they have been able to announce themselves sufficiently and convincingly as a force to reckon with in Anambra sports.

“The good thing is that, it is a wholly private sector driven initiative, we not only have Anambra Beach Soccer team but a team that is featuring competitively in the national league, and the association has been able to build one of the best beach soccer area as confirmed by the national coordinator where there is no beach.

“So, personally and on behalf of SWAN in Anambra, I want to thank Prof. Victor Madubuko, Chairman of ABSA, Moonshine Residence and all its partners for the great contributions they are making to the growth and development of not just Beach Soccer but sports in general in Anambra.

“The four-day event was an opportunity to showcase the rich hospitality and cultural heritage of Anambra; there were also economic and social interaction values.”

While calling on the Anambra State government to support sports associations that have shown good organisation and willingness to make an impact like ABSA, the chairman pledged the readiness of SWAN to partner and promote programmes of associations and enable them achieve their developmental objectives.

He further advised the Anambra Beach Soccer Warriors to commence preparations immediately ahead of the final round and further wished the team success as they join three other teams for the final clash in Kaduna later this year.

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