Players for the Victor Ezeji Testimonial scheduled for December 17 will be kitted by indigenous sportswear manufacturer Owu Sports.
This much was announced by Chairman Main Organising Committee of the Victor Ezeji Testimonial China Acheru in Port Harcourt.
Owu Sports has become a major player in the Nigeria Professional Football League in recent times kitting clubs like Shooting Stars, Kwara Utd, Akwa Utd and Remo Stars.
Acheru says it’s indeed noteworthy that a brand like Owu has decided to identify with the Ezeji Testimonial.
They are a Nigerian brand with quite a number of years in the league now and we are happy to have them as partners.
Chief executive officer Owu Sports Wear, Barrister Tunji Brown speaking to VET media confirmed the partnership and informed his company will be charged with also producing replica kits to be worn by fans for the event.
We are partnering with them in the supply of kits for the event. This is in the area of kits that will be worn by Victor Ezeji and friends and the NPFL players that will be playing and also with the provision of replicas for the event. That is exactly what we are doing.
Brown also spoke of his company’s delight on being part of the first testimonial to be held for a player in the Nigerian league.
If you look at what hat Ezeji has done for the league it is comparable to what the likes of Ryan Giggs, Steven Gerard did for the Premier League with so many years behind them.
It is exactly what Ezeji has done for the Nigerian League.
It (testimonial) also serves as motivation for those that are presently playing in the Nigerian League that you could actually make a living playing in the Nigerian league and when you eventually hang up your boots that Nigeria will also be willing to celebrate you just as it is being done for Victor Ezeji right now.
The Victor Ezeji Testimonial will be played on the 17th of December in Port Harcourt and is expected to feature Friends of Victor squaring up against a Team NPFL.
Taekwondo: All set for 2016 Korean Ambassador Cup
All plans have been concluded for the 2016 edition of the Korean Ambassador Cup from Friday, December 8 to Sunday, December 10.
Information made available by the organizers of the 3 days event sponsored by the Korean Cultural Centre revealed that over 300 participants from the 36 states of the federation and friendly West African coast will be in attendance where they will be competing for honors in the respective weight categories, for the sparring (kyorugi and the forms (poomsaes).
The Chairman of the Main Organizing Committee who also doubles as the President of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF), Grandmaster George Ashiru said the annual event sponsored by the Korean Cultural centre ‘with their other chosen partners’ is geared towards enhancing sports development and bilateral relations between Nigeria and South Korea.
He believes that in the absence of the National Sports Festival, the 2016 edition will provide an opportunity for the federation to raise a new national team for 2017 which is a world championship year.
According to information made available from the secretariat of the NTF, about 300 athletes made up of 50 teams have already arrived in Lagos for the competition set to kick off on Friday.
“300 athletes with about 150 accompanying officials have already landed in Lagos and ready for the 2016 edition of the Korean Ambassador Cup.”
“Ghana have already sent in 3 separate teams from 3 different provinces, Niger have sent in another set of athletes while Togo are reported to have their athletes on the road.
But, we won’t count them as part of the competition until they arrive in Lagos.”
“We do know that many states, the Armed forces and other para-military units as well as elite clubs are seriously gearing up to be for this event to ensure that their athletes are nationally ranked in preparation for a busy season in 2017.
Apart from individual awards for participating athletes at the end of the competition, there will be a presentation of awards from the Korean Ambassador to former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, former Chief of Army staff, Lt. General Inuwa Wushishi (rtd) and other Nigerians for their immense contributions to Taekwondo development, support for the bilateral relationship between the Korean Embassy and the sports establishment in Nigeria since the formation of federation 30 years ago.