Jimbaz FC of Ihiala on Sunday, 5th December 2021 emerged as champions of the maiden edition of the Remmy Uche Soccer Challenge Cup.
The football fiesta which commenced on the 30th of October 2021 saw a total of 16 teams across Anambra State taking part in the competition.
The final match played at the Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium Onitsha saw the Ihiala-based side, Jimbaz FC, seeing off Remmy Uche FC by a lone goal scored by Oluka Ngei with almost the last kick of the game. The Champions bagged the coveted price of N1.5million and the trophy, while Remmy Uche FC settled for the second prize of N1million.
In the third-place match earlier in the day, Akuchukwu FC defeated De Godz FC 3-0 via penalty shootout after a goaless draw in regulation time to take home the sum of N500,000. The fourth-placed De Godz FC went home with N100,000.
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The Remmy Uche Soccer Challenge Cup, bankrolled by Umudioka-born multi-millionaire businessman and real estate developer, Chief Remigius Uchenna Anyadike, saw other individual awards such as Most Valuable Player (MVP) awarded to Michael Ekwunobi of Akuchukwu FC. The Best Behaved Team accolade went to Jimbaz FC, Best Goalkeeper of the competition went to Miracle Ukadike of Remmy Uche FC, while the Highest Goalscorer went to Ngei Oluka of Jimbaz FC who scored a total of six goals in the competition.
In his post-match interaction with journalists, the sole sponsor on the Remmy Uche Soccer Challenge Cup, Chief Remigius Uchenna Anyadike, stated that his passion for the game and the will to provide a platform for the youths in Anambra State to showcase their God’s giving talent was the motivation behind the competition. Anyadike assured that the competition has come to stay and will be an annual event in the football programme of Anambra State.
The Vice Chairman, Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA), Chief Engr. Victor Aniekwena (Ifeadigo Ogbunike) also appraised the Remmy Uche Soccer Challenge Cup 2021 and described the competition as the right step in the right direction aimed as bringing Anambra State youths together, nurturing them, as well as providing the right platform to showcase and market their talents. He eulogized Chief Anyadike for his magnanimity by way of giving back to the society using such competition as a platform, he called on other public spirited individuals and lovers of the game to emulate the kind gesture of Chief Anyadike.
The Chairman Local Organizing Committee (LOC), Mr. Austin Kelechukwu remarked that the Remmy Uche Soccer Challenge Cup 2021 turned out nothing short of entertainment. He commended the Benefactor for giving him the platform to serve as the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee. He also said that the feedback received from the participants show that the competition is possibly the best. that they have participated in so far.
The son of the late Chuba Ikpeazu and the chairman of Ikpeazu Redoubtable FC, Barrister Odi Ikpeazu, described the competition as well organized and an encouraging one aimed at promoting football development in Onitsha aand Anambra State in general. He however lamented the poor state of the Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium saying that something urgent needs to be done to the facility to give it a facelift.
