.As Sports, and Culture Meet Together in Mbaise Nation
By Kennedy Onwunali
Sports and Culture are two institutions that has gone a long way to change the face of the 21st century in the world.
The collaboration between the National Tourism Organization and Sports is one of the few organizations that its partnership has stood the test of time. It has helped to uplift the nations image at the international Community.
One locality in the country that has ranked high in the development of sports and culture is the Mbaise Nation.
Interestingly, Mbaise in the world of football has produced male and female players that has represented the nation at the first World Cup in USA and China. DCP Chioma Ajunwa Rtd, and Chidi Nwanu all from Mbaise were at the world football showpiece.
Mbaise has produced coaches for the National teams including; Dr Patrick Ekeji, Coach of Green Eagles of Nigeria and Sierra Leone National team, Coach Alphonso Dike, the Under 17 in football.
In sports administration, Dr Ekeji, was a former DG National Sports Commission, Scorpion Daga FC founded by Coach Godwin Agbaraji was renowned to have produced more female players than any other coach in the country. This led to other coaches and managers to come to Mbaise and scout for players as a result of his work.
Professor Ken Anugweje of University of Port Harcourt is the overall Best Director of NUGA in the university games.
www.silvernews.com.ng reports that
DCP Chioma Ajunwa is the first individual to win a Gold medal in the history of Olympic for the country and the only one to have played at the World Cup as a Footballer and won a medal at the Olympic as an athlete in the history of world sports.
Coach Uche Eucharia was the first woman to coach the senior national women football while Akudo Iwugu was the national first goal scorer at the U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Also Mbaise houses the NSC zonal office at Nkwogwu. Professor Amuchie was the Head of Sports, University of Nigeria Nsuka, Mr Amanze Uchegbulam, a former CAF Appeals Committee Chairman, Mr Peter Njoku Secretary NBBF, Mr Kennedy Onwunali, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Players’ Union Imo State, current footballer, Ifeanyi Matthew of FC Zurich, who is banging in the goals in the European Conference league is the hottest player from Mbaise to the world.
Iriji Mbaise is a national recognized cutural event in the country, Abigbo Mbaise masquerade and agaca ekeruwa are some of the cultural events Mbaise is known for.
To this end, Mbaise Top Seed Club is set to organize the 2024 Mbaise Cultural Festival aimed at promoting and sustaining the culture of the people.
This was contained in a statement by the leadership of the club including, Johnny Opara, President, Declan Odor, Club Secretary and Emeka Ulor, Project Manager.
According to Sir Tony Awusaku, who is at the helm of managing this year’s event, the programme will kick off on Saturday, 9th November, 2024 with an opening soccer match at the Chioma Ajunwa Sports Complex, Nguru (near Nkwogwu Market). The Diasporan members of the Club including Chisom Ogbodudu and Emeka Nwachukwu as facilitators are behind the soccer tournament.
“The objective of the event is the sustainance of our cultural heritage, especially as it concerns traditional music and dance, like nmanwu (masquarade), abigbo, agborogwu, nkwa umunwanyi (women dance), ojionu and the rest.
“To enhance interest and expand audience, we have added the final match of our sponsored soccer tournament, to this year’s grand event.
“Also, we have identified two Mbaise Greats, for a special recognition during this year’s event, holding on Tuesday, the 24th of December, 2024. We believe this event will, annually, herald the Christmas, and our memorable ‘erigwara’ celebrations in the Mbaise Nation.
“Mbaise Top Seed Club, is an elite association of a select Mbaise sons, from diverse professions and, based in various cities across the world, home and abroad. Our Club is a non-profit organisation, dedicated to the upliftment and development of our ancestry in all its ramification.
“Beside our flagship project, we have, in few years now, undertaken philanthropic projects in schools, hospitals, and our communities. Distribution of educational materials, visiting hospitals and motherless babies homes, Farming support, Covid-19 interventions and palliative distributions are some of the projects we have undertaken.”
The competition which kicks off on the 9th November at the National Sports Commission zonal office Nkwogwu will feature teams from the three local government areas of Mbaise with Aboh Mbaise locking horns with Ahiazu Mbaise in the first game of the competition.
St Jude football ground Amuzi Ahiazu Mbaise and Aboh Mbaise football ground are hosting the games for each local government.
All the participating teams are expected attend the opening ceremony which will have Dr Frank Ihekwoaba and other dignitaries as the Special Guests of Honour.
The final on 24th December 2024 will witness the display of the rich cultural heritage of the people of Mbaise.
