Fides Media Living the Faith
By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
In their bid to improve the life and well-being of male adults in and around Awka Capital Territory and instil in them the need for regular exercise, the members of Awka Capital Elite Football Club (ACE FC) recently played an intra-match at Awka City Stadium with a call on all and sundry to exercise themselves regularly .
The match which preceded the first general meeting of the club, was officiated by professional referees and was witnessed by football lovers who thronged the venue of the match from far and near.
The club, founded in the year 2012 by Dennis Aribodor, a Professor of Public Health Parasitology of the Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has seasoned journalists, lecturers, employers of labour, political appointees, bankers, businessmen, engineers, servants of God, security agents, lawyers, civil and public servants, former professional footballers, ex-internationals, including the Chairman of Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA), Mr Chikelue Iloenyosi, as members.
Speaking shortly after the intra-match, the President of ACE FC and the founder of Gran Hermano Academy, Awka, Chief Chijioke Nwajioha, enjoined all to exercise on daily basis, noting that the All-Stars Club exercised at their training ground at Amawbia Secondary School field along NTA/Enugwu Agidi Road every Wednesday evening by 5 and every Saturday morning by 7.
The club president appealed to government and public-spirited individuals to invest in sports, especially football, stating that football had become a very lucrative business all over the world, and that, apart from the business aspect of it, the gains inherent in regular exercise could not be quantified.
Chief Nwajioha, while emphasizing the importance of exercise, charged the club members to make discipline and punctuality to trainings their watchword.
Some of the executive members of the club present included, Chief Paschal Onwudiwe -Vice President; Dr Chidiebere Obi –Secretary; Mr Kenechukwu Ofomah – Assistant Secretary; Mr. Emmanuel Omozuafo – Financial Secretary; Chief Casmir Nnamso –Treasurer; captain; Sir Abuchi Onwumelu – Image Maker; Dr Kelechi Onyeka Ezeani – Welfare Officer; Dr Aloy Umeodinka -Technical Adviser; Mr Chukwudi Anyaefiena and Mr Nonso Oguejiofor – trainers and many other club members.
Promise of presentation of FIFA made bibs, balls and cash donation to the club by the Chairman of Anambra State Football Association, (ANSFA), Iloenyosi; refreshment; group photographs, formed the highpoints of the event.