Football a veritable tool to engage youths against crime, drug abuse - Chief Ngwu

Chief Austin Ngwu, one of the Sponsors of the 2023 Nsukka Town Youths Football League has commended the Nsukka Town Youths Association (NTYA) for using football competition to campaign against crime and drug abuse among youths.

Ngwu made the commendation in Nsukka at the weekend during the grand finale of the 2023 Nsukka Town Youths Football League competition held at the Nsukka Township Stadium in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State with the theme; "Shoot-Out Drug Abuse among the Youths."

He said that football competition and other sports remained one of the veritable tools to engage the youths meaningfully and prevent them against crime and drug abuse, stressing that the competition was meant to sharpen the skills and fish out hidden talents among youths in the area while discouraging them from illicit drugs use.

"I commend Nsukka town youths for using the football league to drive the campaign against the use of illicit drugs among youths in the area.

"One of the things that attracted me as one of the sponsors is the theme of the league which is 'Shoot-Out Drug Abuse Among the Youths.'

"It's undisputable that illicit drugs have marred the future of many youths in the country," he said.

The sponsors also commended the discipline and sportsmanship displayed by the participating teams and urged them to keep it up and sustain it to the next edition.

"I am happy that throughout the tournaments the youths conducted themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner.

"I congratulate in a special way the Ihe team for emerging as the overall winner of the tournaments," he said.

Chief Ngwu applauded the leadership of NTYA led by Comr. Onyekachi Omeje and the League Committee members for their adequate arrangement and organization that made the tournament a huge success.

Speaking, Omeje (the Nsukka Town Youths President) expressed happiness that the competition that started November 2023 has come to a successful and thanked the tournament sponsors and participants for their participation.

"I stand before you today with immense gratitude and joy as we gather at the Nsukka Township Stadium for the final match of Nsukka Town football league 2023.

"It feels my heart with pride to see that this vision to shoot out drug abuse among youths has achieved the desired result.

"Our journey began with a simple idea, and today, it has evolved into a powerful movement, echoing the resilience and determination of our youths to create positive change.

"I salute the executive members of NTYA and all Nsukka town youths for their continued support and cooperation that has made it possible for the association to record numerous achievements," he said.

The president said that the association will remain grateful to Mr. Lloyd Ekweremadu, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Enugu, Mr. Walter Ozioko, Nsukka Local Government Council Chairman, Chief William Agbbo, Chairman Wilson Group of Companies, other sponsors and patrons of Nsukka Town Youths Football League for their unrelenting supports and good advice to the organization.

The youth leader felicitates the Ihe, Iheagu, and Umakashi teams for coming first, second, and third respectively in the football competition.

He disclosed that the first position team would go home with N250,000, the second position N150,000, and the third place team would take N100,000.

"Our initial prize money tag was N1,000.000, N750,000, and N500,000 for first second, and third position respectively, but unfortunately some of the financial promises made by some sponsors were not redeemed," he said.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after being presented with the trophy, the captain of Ihe team Mr. Kenneth Chinweike expressed appreciation to the Almighty God for crowning their effort with victory.

"We are excited about emerging as the overall best team of the tournament and we give God all the glory.

"We adhered to the theme of the competition which is shooting out drug abuse, we did not even take ordinary alcohol since the competition started, so that will remain focused and fit," he said.

Chinweike however, expressed disappointment on the amount given to them as the overall winner of the competition.

"We were told initially that the prize money of N1,000,000, N750,000, and N500,000 for the first, second, and third position respectively would be up for grabs.

"We are surprised that we were given N250,000 as the winner despite huge expenses we incurred on logistics while featuring in the tournament," he said.

Meanwhile, in the final match, Ihe team defeated Iheagu team by 2:0 while in the 3rd place match, Umakashi team defeated Isi-Akpu team by 3:0.