By CHIEDU UCHE OKOYE

Hon. Obinna Igboebisi, an ADC political stalwart, has tipped Obosi United for victory in their third place match against Game Changer FC of Awka in the Anambra President Federation Cup.

An ADC aspirant for the seat of Idemili North Constituency in the Anambra state assembly, Igboebisi admonished the Obosi lads to put their semi-final loss behind them, and strive to win the bronze for Obosi people.

“Do not allow your back-breaking loss against Edel FC of Awka to dampen your morale. It is in the past, now

“So I am urging you to go ahead and beat the Game Changer FC of Awka in the third place match.

“Winning the bronze will be a consolation for your unfortunate 7-8 loss to Edel FC of Awka via penalty shootout,” Igboebisi said.

More so, Dr. Chudy Ugona, an Obosi-born medical practitioner, advised the Obosi United FC players not to be demoralized by their semi-final loss.

He urged them to be confident and remain focused so as to overcome their opponent in the third place match slated for April 26, 2026 at NEROS stadium, Nanka, Anambra state.

Ugona bemoaned the fact that Obosi Development Union (ODU) budgeted no money for the club’s participation in the competition while advising the club’s administrators to start early to beg for financial support whenever the club would participate in football competition.

“The fact is that ODU has no budget for Obosi United FC regarding this competition.

“I am advising the club administrators to start early to solicit for financial support whenever the club qualified to participate in a football competition.

“I am, also, confident that Obosi United FC will triumph over their opponent on Sunday. My advice to them is to be confident and remain focused,” Ugona quipped.

Again, Nze Uzo Epundu, who is the founder of the club and the longest serving match commissioner in the Southeast of Nigeria, was optimistic that Obosi United Football Club would return to Obosi with the bronze on Sunday.

He advised Obosi youths to take to playing football, describing the game of football as a money-spinning venture, from which such iconic football stars as Lionel Messi, Ronaldo, George Weah, and others have become billionaires.

“Football is a big business. And It is a lucrative business. In today’s world, few people are richer than Ronaldo and Messi, who are world-class footballers.

“Therefore, I am urging Obosi indigenes, who are young, to embrace the game of football. In the past, Obosi United Football Club produced Okey Akabogu, Chiedu Obi, the late Chiedu Ajegbo, Chukwudi Odita, Ike Agbo, and others, who starred for top-flight Nigerian club sides,” Epundu said.

Epundu, who is a seasoned football administrator, went down memory lane, recalling how the club played in the Nigerian National League division three, and won prizes.

Obosi, it should be noted, is the home town of Ogidi Ibeabuchi, a star player of Rangers International Football Club of Enugu in the 1970s and 1980s; Arthur Ebunam of the CKC of Onitsha all-conquering team; Emeka Onwuekwe, a goal-tender for the Vasco da gama of Enugu; and others.

The 2026 Anambra President Federation Cup Competition, which is sponsored by NEROS Pharmaceuticals, would end on Sunday, April 26, 2026, with Edel FC of Awka taking on Amanda FC in the final match. And Obosi United FC will trade tackles with the Game Changers of Awka for the bronze cup.

The matches, whichh are expected to be thrilling and live up to billings, will take place at NEROS stadium, Nanka, Anambra state.

•Chiedu is of the Anambra State Ministry of Information.