Main Market beats Nnewi to lift Obiano Traders’ Cup

After 1-1 score at the end of full time, Onitsha Main Market team trounced Nnewi New Spare parts market 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out to retain Governor Willie Obiano’s Traders’ Cup trophy.

The match which was watched by the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke, saw Main Market boys take the lead in the first half in a goalmouth melee but the Nnewi boys levelled up in the second half.

At the end of 90 minutes, the referee ordered for penalty kicks, which saw Nnewi boys scoring only one as against Onitsha boys’ three, bringing the total score to 4-2 in favour of Main Market.

Speaking earlier during the half time in the match which took place at Godwin Achebe Stadium, Fegge, Onitsha, Dr. Okeke stressed the importance of Sports development in helping Governor Willie Obiano to keep the youths of the state both happy and busy because according to him an “idle mind is a devil’s workshop”.

Promising that they would continue to sponsor sports, the deputy governor thanked traders for the support they gave them during the last election by voting Governor Obiano.

He said the Governor at the appropriate time will thank them but added that the victory was a serious mandate to do more, saying that the Government will continue to provide more infrastructure, build more projects in the markets and communities in the State.

The State Commissioner for Youth Entrepreneurship and Sports Development, Dr. (Mrs.) Uju Nworgu, said the competition was to usher in peace and unity among traders, select talents among traders and make the youths gainfully employed.

She said with sports, there is a brighter future for our youths, saying that sports programmes of the state have made positive impacts on the youths with discovery of talents and youths taken off the streets.

“Governor Obiano’s administration meant well for all of you. Remain steadfast in support of him. Thank you for the way you voted him during the election,” the Commissioner, who described the match as “victorious final,” told the traders.

In his speech, the President-General of the umbrella market body in the state, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, thanked Obiano for floating the competition, saying that the traders in voting massively for him, had paid him back with votes.

He said it is now the turn of the Governor to pay the traders back and hoped that their support would strengthen their relationship with him, pledging their continued loyalty to the Governor.

Ezenwankwo also appealed to the Governor to increase the prize money to N2.5 million, N1.5 million, and N1 million for the winner, the second and third positions respectively.

Earlier, the Amalgamated Tyre Dealers Nkpor had walked over Nkpor Main Market to take third position.

Alphonsus Nweze, Awka