Abia State Government says it would fish out hidden male  football talents through the Abia State Soccer Fest commencing  on  August 23, 2025, across the 17 LGAs of the State.

The State also disclosed that  new football stars would be discovered for Abia State, Nigerian Premier League clubs, Nigerian national teams and major European clubs from the competition.

Addressing journalists on Friday, the Vice Chairman of the Local Organization Committee, LOC of Abia Fest, Captain Eric Asomugha said that the competition would commence on August 23 in 184 Wards of the State and would culminate in best teams from 17 LGAs competing at State level.

He said that the  tournament, which is being organised by Abia State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, is for players between the age bracket of 16 and  23 years.

“Over 6 or 7 months. We are working on different things. We are going to have the best player in each match.

“We shall be inviting scouts from local, state, national and international to fish out the talents that are going to be discovered in this great tournament,” said Asomugha.

Also, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Uzor Nwachukwu and the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development ,  Nwaobilor Ananaba thanked Governor Otti for his policies in the discovery of talents and sports development in general.

They made it clear that  every male resident between the ages of 16-23 is free to participate, as Governor Otti had already abolished the “State of Origin” dichotomy.

Manchester City defensive midfielder, Rodri has suffered another injury setback.

The Spain international will be out at least until mid September.

The Ballon d’Or winner is said to have suffered the injury during Manchester City’s clash with Al Hilal in the FIFA Club World Cup.

The former Imo State Chairman of ADC party and a Retired Nigeria Premier League Referee Hon Engr Andyson Obani has earned promotion into NIGERIA PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (NPFL) REFEREE ASSESSOR cadre.

As he completed the mandatory promotion Course recently organized by NIGERIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION in conjunction with Nigeria Football Referee Association at Moshood Abiola’s Stadium Fct Abuja.

This top class Premier league referee of class 2006 officiated Nigeria highest league over a decade before his retirement in 2018.

As a vast experienced sports manager, having been assessing Nigeria National League Referees for the past five years , the NFF/NRA deemed him fit on merit and duely qualified for promotion from Imo State.

Engr Andyson Obani‘s love for conventional politics as a Pan-Afrikist started in 2015 when he joined AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS PARTY a minor Minority party in I’m State with little or no visibility.

His entrance into the party brought revived the strenght of imo ADC when he rallied his allies ( sports, Unionism and civil Societies ) into Imo Adc.

The highpoint was in 2018 when he collapsed OWERRI OKIGWE ZONES GREAT ALLIANCE OZGA into ADC, A move that reshaped imo Adc in 2019 with six guber aspirants while Andyson contested for the Ezinihitte stare Assembly with good results.

This tactical move earned him accolades by the National Leadership of the party led by Chief Ralph’s Okey Nwosu (Ikolo Awka) and was sent for “Leadership Transformation Course” at ADC global campus Abuja under the mentorship of Hi-Chief Anayo Arinze (Eko Awka ) before his appointment as the state chairman.

He has been a congressman that supervised the following congresses: Abia-2018, Imo-2019, Rivers-2021 Cross Rivers-2022, imo-2023 and Presently the SVC Imo East.