Aspire Football Club of Adazi-Ani has gained promotion to the Nigerian National League (NNL) after securing a slender one nil win over Essien Ayi FC of Calabar at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi. The goal came through David Okoye in the third minute of the second period as the team held their nerve and composure to put the game beyond their opponent for a place in the second tier of Nigerian club football come 2022/23 season.
Recall that Aspire FC Adazi-Ani, an Anambra based NLO club which featured in the just concluded Nationwide league One, 2022 season finished top of Group D2 table with 19 points from 8 matches played ahead of Ingas FC of Enugu, Malick Pro FC of Owerri, Bussdor United FC of Owerri and Udala FC of Uke.
The Club scooped the 19 points in their group from five home and 6 away matches, and lost only one game in one of their away matches.
The four years old Anambra State based football club since inception has been involved in the grassroot football development in Anambra state through the philosophy of My Anambra football that was initiated by Dr Emeka Okeke.
Aspire FC Adazi-Ani as at 3months of existence became the winner of Anambra state Federation Cup 2019 season after defeating FC Ifeanyi Uba club through penalty. In her 6months of existence, Aspire FC Adazi-Ani, featured in the Nationwide league One(Armature Division Two) where they played five straight games undefeated which got them promoted into Nationwide league One, Division One.
In an appreciation message made available to the media on Sunday evening through the club’s Media Director, Emeka Okoye, the management and playing personnel thanked ‘Ndi Anambra’ and the entire Nigeria football fraternity for their support, advise and prayers.
They also promised not to disappoint their fans as long as grassroots football development is concerned.
In their separate speeches, the trio of the team manager, Mr Austin Okoye, Coach, Mr Chikaodi Anya and Assistant Coach, Mr Obinna Amah, the qaulificcation ticket is a reward for hardwork.
They thanked the founder and financier of the young club, Dr Emeka Okeke for his passionate commitment to the club and development of grassroots football.
The trio assured their teeming supporters of a fruitful outing in the NNL.
Aspire FC is owned by Chief Dr. Chukwuemeka Okeke who has continued to redefine football administration in the state with the initiative of ‘My Anambra Football’ which gave birth to the maiden edition of ‘My Anambra Football’ Super 8 tournament held in 2021 and won by GP World FA of Nnewi.
The Adazi-Ani born former Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA) also bankrolled the first professional football coaching clinic for the South East zone in the mould of the 2022 five-day NLO/Berackiah Coaching clinic held in February 2022 for Nationwide League One clubs in the zone with the aim of capacity building for coaches.
The youthful human resource manager and human capital developer also brought home the 2022 edition of FC Bayern Munich Youth Cup Nigeria tournament held in April 2022 and is set to sponsor 20 under-16 Nigerian teenage footballers for October trials in Germany during the anticipated FC Bayern Munich Global youth cup tournament.
/Ikenna/Chigozie
