Talent hunt, best goal of Abia Soccer Fest – Asomugha

From Boniface Okoro

Capt. Eric Asomugha, Vice Chairman, Local Organising Committee of Abia Soccer Fest

Vice Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), Captain Eric Iheanacho Asomugha, says the cardinal essence of organising the first biggest grassroots football tournament in the state is talent hunt.

Asomugha in an interview with The Oracle Today, disclosed all arrangements have been concluded for the kick-off of the age-limit football tournament this Saturday, August 23, 2025, across the 184 Wards in the 17 local government areas of the state which will showcase 202 matches.

He poke during the last zonal draws for Abia Central held at the JAAC building in Umuahia last Saturday.

Captain Asomugha said that the fiesta will span about seven months where adolescent males, aged 16 -23, would lock horns in the biggest grassroots talent hunt designed to create a future for the youths to realize their dreams in sports.

“Today was the third and the last in the series of zonal draws we did in preparation for Abia Soccer Fest. The draws are divided into three, among the three senatorial zones in Abia State –Abia South, Abia North and Abia Central,” he said on Saturday, August 16, 2025.

“We have 184 wards from 17 local governments in Abia State. Each of them is presenting a team and we are going to play a total of 202 matches over six or seven months.

“Abia Soccer Fest is a big football tournament which our Governor, Dr Alex Otti, is the one making it possible, by creating the platform for us o be able to organize these event, and giving opportunity to the youths, through football (Sports in general), and we are organizing this tournament to discover the young talents, to give them opportunity in life to be what they really want to be,” the ASF LOC Vice Chairman said.

The former Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA staff described the tournament as the first of its kind in the state, and, most probably, in Nigeria “where there is a football tournament, right from the grassroots to the Wards, to the local governments where they will play among themselves,” explaining that the Ward that wins at the local government will now qualify to play at the state level where the state champion will emerge. He said that the tournament would be developed into a model for other states to emulate.

“It is not just about who wins, it is about the talent that we are determined to hunt and discover and develop because we look forward to having both local, national and international scouts coming around to catch them young and raw. Everybody is a winner in this tournament,” Asomugha said.

He said the LOC has organized seminars at the zones to educate match officials on the rules of the tournament and also updated them on the latest development in football officiating.

“I must tell you, people are happy. If you go to the interior, they never expected to have something like this. They are all happy, excited with what the Governor is doing, reaching out to the most neglected people in the state when it comes to sports,” he noted.

“So, kudos to the Governor. To be honest, because I have been to some of these interiors, I mean they are going to see football for the first time, at higher level and they are happy to receive us. Everybody is waiting, asking is it going to be possible because they are yet to believe that it is going to be possible but we are assuring them that it is going to be possible, by the special grace of God,” he added.

He charged officials and players to maintain discipline throughout the competition.

Addressing representatives of the five local government areas in Abia Central during the zonal draw held at the JAAC Building in Umuahia, a member of the LOC, Dr. Kalu U. Kalu, said the Committee was good to go and enjoined the stakeholders to seek support of people in their councils.

While praying for injury-free tournament, Dr. Kalu who is the Executive Secretary of Abia State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, assured that the organizers would provide first-class medical care for anyone that sustains injury while the competition lasts.

The tournament is being organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development and Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.