Zonal eliminations of the ongoing Anambra School Sports Festival were concluded on Saturday across the three senatorial districts with finalists emerging to represent their Local Government Areas at the state finals.
The state finals would hold from June 21 to June 24, 2023.
The 2-day zonal eliminations series were staged at Nnewi High School, Nnewi and Isuofia Community Secondary School for Anambra South District while Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium Onitsha and Otuocha Stadium Aguleri hosted Anambra North District.
The Anambra Central hostilities were staged at Nnamdi Azikiwe Secondary School, Abagana, St Mary’s High School and, St Stephen’s secondary school both in Ifitedunu and Sports Club Amawbia.
In male football, Christ the King College, Onitsha looks set to reenact its World Academical feat at Dublin 1977 as they cruised to the final in both U13 and U17 boys categories.
The school joined to represent Anambra North after its U13 team walloped Community Primary School, Okpoko 7-0. in a game that was meant to determine the first placed team while U17 after succumbing 0-1 to Washington Boys.
The narrow loss did not remove the shine and quality from the thrilling contest with C.K.C appearing comfortable with the opportunity to mount the big stage of the state final
In female football Urban Girls Secondary School, Onitsha defeated Bethlehem Girls College, Fegge 1-0 in the U17 category to advance to the state finals as representatives of Anambra North.
In Nnewi, Queen of Angels beat Community School Ebenator 5-4 on penalties to qualify for female U17 football while Nnewi High school defeated Divinity Secondary school 3-1 in male category to emerge from Anambra South.
In Isuofia, Christ Redeemer College Amesi beat CSS Oko by 4-2 via penalties in female U17 football while their male counterpart joined in the state finals after beating Community Secondary School Awgbu by 2:1.
In basketball, Nnewi High school advanced to the state finals after walking over their opponents that didn’t show up for the final.
In female volleyball, Holy Child Secondary school Isuofia and Community Secondary School Isuofia advance to the state finals to represent Anambra South.
In male volleyball, Volleyball Holy Child Secondary school Isuofia beat Community Secondary School Isuofia 3-2 to represent Anambra south zone in the state final alongside
In Anambra Central, Bubendorf Grammar School Adazi-Nnukwu and CSS Akwaeze progressed in the male volleyball event while, Community Secondary School Akwaeze and Rosa Mystica High School Agulu advanced in the female category.
Don Bosco College Obosi and Bubendorf Memorial Grammar School Adazi-Nnukwu are through to U17 male basketball final while Mater Amabilis College Umuoji advanced to the final unopposed.
In the U-17 male finals Bubendorf Memorial Grammar School Adazi-Nnukwu defeated Capital City Secondary School Awka 8-7 via penalty shootouts to make it to the final.
In a post match interview, Francis Ejiofor, the CKC games master, said he was full of joy for his teams return to soccer reckoning and commended the principal of of the school for his encouragement and support.
Ejiofor commended the Anambra government and the Sports Development Commission for providing the platform for students to showcase their sporting talents while learning.
“We are doing everything possible with the help of our principal to reclaim that position, we train Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday to ensure we achieve the goal.
“Anambra state, especially the present governor, is doing a wonderful job in sports, one thing I like about this ongoing competition is that they started from the grassroot for the talent hunt.
“We want to lift every soccer trophy in Anambra, we want to be the best to retain our number one position in sports in the state,” he said.
