By Ikenna Nwokedi
The winner of the season 3 edition off the annual Remmy Uche Soccer Challenge Cup will smile home with the sum of Three Million Naira (N3million) while the first and second runners-up will each settle for Two Million Naira (N2million) and One Million Naira (N1million) respectively.
This disclosure was made by Austin Nwankwo, Chairman, Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the competition during the draw ceremony for the 2023 edition of the Remmy Uche Soccer Challenge Cup held on Wednesday, 1st November 2023 at the corporate headquarters of Remmy Uche Group Ltd at Onitsha.
The competition which is bankrolled by the Founder and CEO Remmy Uche Group Ltd, Chief Surveyor Remigius Uchenna Anyadike (Akuchukwu 1 of Umudioka), will kickoff on Sunday, 12th November 2023 and expected to last for a month with Defending Champions, De Godz FC commencing hostilities against Niger Stars FC in Group A which also has Sanky Stars FC and Up Stars FC.
As 18 teams vie for honours for season 3, Group B will see Uncle Ralph FC of Isuaniocha playing against Kamso FC, Vulcans FC and Eleven Teachers FC. Peace FC are drawn in Group C alongside Barrack Bombers FC, Ochomma FC, Galaxy FC and Bonfa FC while Group D has Washington Stars FC, Unity FC, Flying Horse FC, Manpola FC and Ozalla FA.
In a chat with reporters, the sponsor, Chief Surv. Remigius Uchenna Anyadike stated that the competition which is in its third year is aimed at providing a platform for talented young footballers in the state to showcase themselves to the state and beyond as well as to provide a sporting atmosphere in the state.
Chief Anyadike revealed that the competition has aided football scouts to discover budding talents with three players who played in the 2022 edition now playing for professional clubs in Europe, five more playing in the top tier of Nigerian Club football, Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) while one of the competition’s product also represented the country at the U-17 level.
“The competition is geared towards giving talented youths of Anambra State a platform to showcase their God’s given talent, seek for greener pastures through football and create a sporting atmosphere in the state. To the Glory of God, this is the third edition of the competition which has produced a player playing for the National U-17 team, three more now playing in Europe while more than five players are now playing for various clubs in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
“For this edition, the winner will go home with N3million while the second placed team will smile home with N2million and third placed team going home with N1million with other consolation prizes as well which will be unveiled on the final day of the competition,” Anyadike stated.
The youthful Chief Anyadike also informed that he is set to float his own club which would be called Remmy Uche FC, the Umudioka born Businessman and Real Estate Developer informed that the club will be unveiled come January 2024 as they have completed the necessary affiliation with Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA) and completed the FIFA Connect programme.
De Godz FC of Onitsha defeated Ozalla FC of Obosi by 6-5 on penalties in last year’s final after a scoreless affair at the end of regulation time in a match played on the 30th of October 2022 at the Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium, Onitsha.
