Barely two months after Imo Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere inaugurated a Committee to superintend his proposed Imo annual inter-campus football tournament, the committee yesterday hosted a seminar for the Local Organising Committees of the ready-to-participate campuses at the Conference Hall, Office of the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Government House, Owerri.
In his address, Prince Eze Madumere Football Competition Committee Chairman, Hon. Emeka Ajih said the responsibility of the committee is derived from its terms of reference, which he said is to design a blueprint for a sustainable annual football tournament; to come up with reliable rules and regulations to guide against abuse.
He revealed that the committee, among other things, has contacted relevant agencies and bodies especially the regulating ones. He said his committee has also activated the formation of Local Organising Committees of the participating campuses with the submission of the list of the members headed by Directors of Sports and Games Masters.
On the seminar, he opined that the seminar was necessary since it is meant to keep the participant abreast of the rules of the game and the pre-qualification processes for intending participating High Institutions.
It will be recalled that Imo Deputy Governor on February 1, 2017 had inaugurated the committee for Prince Eze Madumere inter-campus Football Competition with the objective of creating opportunities for talented players thereby reducing number youths in the streets.
Prince Madumere has demonstrated his love for sports through appreciable efforts evidenced in Prince Eze Madumere Unity Cup, which he has sustained for over two decades with many players already at the national club sides. His staunch support for Heartland FC, Owerri with his presence and substance. He is the first individual in Imo State to have hosted Prince Eze Madumere Athletics Championship, which gave room to the discovery of many young talents in track and field events.
On the date of kick-off for Prince Eze Madumere Inter-Campus Football Tournament, Hon. Ajih said it will be unveiled soon after Easter Holiday and that the tournament is only for the Institutions of Higher Learning in Imo State, which includes both State owned and Federal owned Institutions.
Meanwhile, the YSFON Chairman, South East, Mr. Ndubuisi Opara who is also a member of Football Association, Imo State Chapter commended the Deputy Governor for his consistency in finding means to empower the youths especially through skill acquisition and development of sporting talents, assuring that posterity will surely remember him.
In the vein, one of the trail baling sports Analyst, Solomon Onu popularly known as Solo Mourinho called on all and sundry to give their support to the novel inter-campus football Tournament, saying that the Deputy Governor has remain consistent in his effort in Sports development, applauding Rescue Mission in its new agenda to make Imo the first among equals in sports.
The Students drawn from seven Institutions of Higher Learning in the State applauded the Prince Madumere for the kind gesture. They promised to come all put to make the tournament the best.