By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The maiden edition of Brainbox Football League organised by the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) in partnership with the Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA) for the 21 local government areas in the state has kicked off.

The opening match of the tournament which was held at the Awka City Stadium on Saturday the Oyi Local Government Area football team beating their opponents from Dunukofia Council area by a lone goal.

The opening goal of the month-long soccer fiesta which came via Paul Nnamdi in the 48th minute of the match.

According to the organisers of the tournament, the winner will smile home with a N3Million cash prize, while the 1st and 2nd Runners Up will take with them N2million and N1million respectively. N100,000 cash prize will be given to the Best Goalkeeper, Best Player the and Highest Goal Scorer.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the state Chairman of NYCN, Amb. Surveyor Obi Emeka Chukwudi, described football as a unifying factor, saying that the council is using the game to unite the entire youths in the state and engage them meaningfully.

He appreciated the support of the State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, in the area of youth empowerment for his ‘One Youth Two Skills’ programme.

Chukwudi also hailed the Commissioner for Youth Empowerment, Hon. Patrick Agha Mba, even as he called on youths to make the best use of the tournament.

On his part, the Manager of Brainbox Sports Foundation, Comrade Ifeanyichukwu Nwoye who spoke on behalf of the sponsor, said that the benefactor’s love for the game is the driving force behind his willingness to embark on the sponsorship of the competition, nothing that it will provide a platform for the youths in the state to showcase their God-given talent.

He said: “The competition has come to stay and will be an annual event in the sports program of the NYCN. The Brainbox Foundation intends to host the entire state and ensure the competition will be an annual event.”

Earlier in his speech, the Chairman, Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA), Chief Chikelue Iloenyosi, commended Brainbox Sports Foundation for their magnanimity in accepting to bankroll the football programme which is a brainchild of the NYCN.

He expressed ANSFA’s support for such initiative promising to provide immense technical support aimed at ensuring that the competition is hitch free from the start to the termination of the event.

On his part, the Senior Special Assistant to Anambra State Government on Security Matters, Hon. Chiejina Anthony Obieze, described the football programme as laudable, saying that it is essential in uniting the youths of the state.

He applauded the CEO of Brainbox Sports Foundation for keying into the ‘Akuluo uno’ philosophy by bankrolling the competition which he described as a right step in the right direction.

Highlights of the kick-off of the tournament, include, road show by members of the NYCN which took off from Alex Ekwueme square at Aroma by the twenty one Council areas of the state and ended at the Awka City Stadium, paramilitary display, quarter guard performance and march past.