By PAMELA EBOH Awka

The much anticipated Anambra State Traders Sports Competition has kicked off with football matches across the eight venues in the state.

The competition which commenced officially on Wednesday witnessed the Chairman, Anambra State Sports Development Commission, Patrick-Estate Onyedum, and President General of Anambra State Amalgamated Market Traders Association (ASMATA) in Awka and Onitsha respectively taking the kick-off.

Onyedum kicked off the game between Odera Market and Arthur Eze Market Awka at the Awka Centre holding at the All Saints Church, field, Amaenyi, Awka.

The match ended 9-2 in favour of Odera Market team.

Speaking at the event, Onyedum commended the teams for their turning out, even as he urged them to play in the spirit of sportsmanship.

At the Onitsha venue, the President General said traders were elated for the opportunity provided by the Gov. Chukwuma Soludo-led government for them to empress themselves in the area of sports.

Anuna said: ASMATA management team is fully involved in the competition and we assure that welfare and security of teams were priorities.

We hope that after this Competition, Anambra and Nigeria will have new players that will add value to our sports because traders are also talented he said.

The match at Ikpeazu Stadium between Bida Road Market Onitsha and God's Portion Plaza ended in 3-0 and three in favour of the Bida Market team after a walkover over their opponents.

At Rojenny Stadium,Grain Seeds Market defeated Motorcycle Spare Parts Npkorby 3-2 while Old Mercedes Benz Nkpor and Electrical market Obosihad walkover wins over Amalgamated Bakery Materials and New Motor Spare Parts respectively.

Tagbo Akachukwu of Grain Seeds Market was the man of the day after all his team's three goals.

In Ogbaru Zone, Iron Dealers market football team beat Ogbaru Main Market by 8-7 after a goalless draw to emerge winners.

The two other games scheduled for the day between Ogba Efele vs Okoro Ichida and Ogbo Agbada vs United Petro-Chemical did not hold.

The Anambra State Traders Sports Competition is featuring other events including Tennis, Table Tennis, Draft and Ncho.