Grassroots Tournaments, Breeding Ground For Football Stars- Ehiwarior, Ika South LG Chairman
Grassroots football tournaments have been described as veritable tools for promoting community cohesion and discovery of budding talents in sports.
The observation was made by the Chairman of Ika South Local Government, Engr. Jerry Ehiwarior , while declaring open the annual Ihu-iyase football competition sponsored by the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor at Ewuru, on Saturday.
Ehiwarior, who took the kick-off, said he was pleased with the interest of prominent Ika South indigenes who are coming home to support ventures and activities that promote youth development, especially in sports, which have the tendency to create opportunities for the younger ones to hone and develop the innate skills.
He maintained that, “such platforms have helped to create opportunities for the younger generations to channel their youthful energies to positive endeavours that could possibly impact on their future as leaders of tommorow.
“My administration is indeed grateful to all of those who are using their wealth and connections to support the government to better the lives of our people, particularly the youths who are the strength of any community. I want to specially thank our leader, General Irabor, for this yearly football tournament, and all that he is doing for the growth and development of Ika South Local Government Area. We are indeed grateful. I pray God continues to protect and grant him the grace of good health and long life.”
Ehiwarior commended the skill and dexterity displayed on the field by both teams of Alihagu and Ewuru, saying that, “watching them play gives one the abiding hope that there is a brighter future for our children, if properly guided and supported.”
The Council boss urged all the participating teams and their supporters to exhibit good sportsmanship all through the period of the tournament, and avoid actions that could be detrimental to its success.
He also urged on the Ihu-iyase communities to keep faith, and continue to pray for the sponsor, General Lucky Irabor, whom he described as a great personality and leader of Ika nation.
