By Emmanuel Ndukuba
Awka, May 16, 2024 – Anambra Beach Soccer team secured a 3-2 victory over Nmanko Patigi of Kwara state as the second round National Beach Soccer League gets underway in Anambra State.
Earlier, Kebbi United Beach Soccer club and Kebbi Fishers Beach Soccer Club also secured victory in the opening matches against Jigawa Golden Stars and Kada Beach Soccer Club.
The second round of 2024 National Beach Soccer League (NBSL) started on Wednesday at the moonshine Arena, Nnewi High School Beach Soccer pitch, Anambra state.
In the first game, determined Kebbi United Beach Soccer club defeated Jigawa Golden Stars Beach Soccer club by 6-4 while Kebbi Fishers Beach Soccer Club secured a 7-5 Kada Beach Soccer Club in the second match of the day.
All the three victorious teams have secured three points each.
The match was spiced with the rich cultural dance display to the admiration of players, officials and guests.
Different dance troupes entertained guests at every interval of the game. such that officials and guests could not hold back their excitement but stood up to dance to the beautiful cultural tunes.
Ugochukwu Uzodike, Chairman Nnewi Sports Club said the private intervention in sports was a good omen while thanking the Anambra Beach Soccer Association for bringing the game to the state, particularly in the commercial city of the state.
Uzodike said Nnewi Sports Club support the association in popularising beach soccer by planning to construct the second playing pitch in Anambra.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Prof. Victor Madubuko, Chairman of Anambra Beach Soccer Association said he was happy to have attracted the NBSL to Anambra state within two years of the formation of the association.
Madubuko said Beach Soccer was a passion for him and that his major interest in the sport was to create an activity that would engage the youth and open doors of economic opportunity for them.
He said beach soccer was an interesting game and encouraged others to invest and make it popular in the Southeast.
“I am living the happiest day of my life for seeing this lifetime vision come to reality, the state government has promised to take the game to all the Local Government Areas, “that is a very good commitment for us”.
“They said we do not have a beach but we have created a beach soccer pitch for ourselves, I thank our sponsors and encourage others to come and give their supports,” he said.
On his part, Mahmud Hadija, President of African Beach Soccer Union and Coordinator of NBSL commended Anambra state for blazing the trail of the game in Southeast.
Hadija said the Anambra Beach Soccer Association, a wholly private sector initiative driven by Madubuko had not only built one of the best beach soccer pitch in Nigeria but put up an interesting hosting.
We are all excited because beach soccer has come to Southeast of Nigeria, particularly Nnewi, we congratulate and thank the good people of Anambra. The hospitality is amazing,” he said.
The second round of the league continues till May 18 with a total of six teams participating.
