UYO
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Chapter, Comrade Amos Etuk, has praised the Akwa Ibom State Football Association (FA) for organizing the first-ever Obong Isong Isang Memorial Academies Championship. He attended the ongoing tournament on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at the Uyo Township Stadium, where he witnessed an intense match between Wilnam Football Academy and De Ark FA, which ended 2-1 in favour of De Ark FA.
Comrade Etuk presented the Player of the Match award to Edidiong Monday of De Ark FA and shared his thoughts on the tournament with the Akwa Ibom State FA media unit.
“I am excited that we are having this kind of tournament, the very first of its kind,” said Etuk. “Let me first of all commend the Akwa Ibom State Football Association led by my brother Comrade Samuel Umoh for the laudable innovations he has brought and making Akwa Ibom State FA one of the most proactive in Nigeria today. Akwa Ibom State has become a destination for soccer events in Nigeria.”
He continued, “The Isong Isang Memorial Academies Championship is very laudable. When you revive the memories of people who have contributed to sports development, like the great Isong Isang, you continue to ensure that their memory is still alive. So I want to thank the Football Association for this. This is a very creatively packaged tournament, and this will ensure the discovery of talents from the various academies. I can assure you that in the nearest future we will be building a new generation of future Super Eagles, Flying Eagles, and Golden Eaglets stars. I am very impressed.”
The NUJ Chairman’s comments underscored the impact of the tournament on youth football development in Akwa Ibom and the state’s growing reputation as a hub for soccer in Nigeria.
