Ugo Nosiri, Owerri
Newly elected Board of the Imo State Football Association, (Imo FA), has commenced moves to seek the partnership of stakeholders in the state for the development of the round leather game.
Leading the Board is the Chairman, Barr Ifeanyi Dike, who expressed readiness to partner with the leadership of the church in the state to promote football and peace in the state.
Dike made the disclosure on Monday during a courtesy call on the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN Imo State chapter, Reverend Divine Eches.
He expressed gratitude to the leadership of CAN for unflinching support to the football association and appealed for more under his leadership.
Dike said the visit was to foster improved collaboration especially to tap from the huge human skills within the church spread across the 27 local government areas of the state.
“The aim of the visit is to fraternise with you and state our desire to always maintain the relationship started through Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam, my predecessor. Thank you for always giving us access to CAN facilities. You have demonstrated christianity well to us such that if we were not Christians, we would have gladly embraced it.
“We intend to draw from the huge deposits of the church to foster peace and security of lives and properties across the state and beyond,” Dike said.
In his response, the CAN chairman congratulated the FA executives on their election, noting that football had been proven to unite Nigerians, while politics, governance, and religion had all failed.
He said: “We must encourage the administration so as to encourage and affect our youths like those discovered on the streets, schools, and churches. I assure you on behalf of Imo CAN, that we will partner and assist you to achieve your goals and to sustain the legacies of Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam, the former FA Chairman.”
Other members who were in attendance include the FA’s Vice Chairman, Chief Sylvester Obasi; Chief Charles Nnadi; Chief Sunny Ndubuisi Ekeocha; Angela Nkwo-Akpolu; all newly elected members; and Mr Clifford, the Assistant Secretary of the FA.
