Sports
ANSSI 2025 Tournament: CKC, Modebe, Lead other Schools in Onitsha South into Zonal Finals
By Ikemefuna Asika
1976 World cup winning school, Christ the king College Onitsha and Modebe Secondary Onitsha, will lead other schools from Onitsha South Council Area to the zonal finals of 2025 ANSSI competition.
The two schools booked their places in the zonal finals in U-14 and U- 18 categories of male football in the just concluded Local Government stage of the competition.
In athletics, all the schools that took part qualified in various races which include 60m, 100m, 150m, etc.
The primary school pupils participated in the u-12 athletics events of 60m, 150m, 300m and 4ร100m relay, and in long jump and high jump field events. They also featured in u-14 events of long jump, high jump, shut put, 4ร100m relay, 4ร100m mixed relay and others.
Central Primary School, Fegge emerged the overall winners, while Zik Avenue Primary school came second.
Speaking to Journalists the Coordinator of Onitsha South, Helen Ezeadim, commended the state government for offering youths the opportunity to develop themselves in sports from the grassroots.
“I thank God for the wonderful opportunity given to the kids to showcase their talents. We have harnessed a lot of talents in the school sports to God be the glory,” she said.
She enumerated the challenges including lack of financial supports from the council chairman, poor officiating, inadequate equipment and shortness of time to start and conclude competitions.
On his part, Choice Eze, a primary 6 pupil of the Central School, Fegge, who won the 100m u-12 boys, said he looks forward to combine education with sports.
“I want to be like the world iconic athlete, Usain Bolt. He is my role model in life,” he said.
From Nnewi South Council area, Union Secondary School will lead the other schools to zonal finals having clinched the first position in the U-18 male football. They will be joined by Ukpor High School that came first in the U-18 female category.
From the results in other events, it shows that Nnewi South will put up a very good performance in other sporting events like volleyball, basketball, etc zonal finals.
Uncle Ralph De Great Academy, Amanuke and St. Paul Academy, Achala will lead the onslaught from Awka North as both teams defeated their opponents from Ebenebe in football event.
According to Raphael Okafor, a member the MOC, athletics events was inconclusive because one NATO official who was to officiate the athletic event had an accident on her way to the venue.
Marist Comprehensive College Nteje will represent Oyi Council Area in basketball as Community Secondary School Nkwelle- Ezunaka and
New Era Secondary School, Nteje will also represent in football event during the Zonal finals.
In athletics and other sports, the LGA is poised to put up a good fight to make sure they qualify for the finals.
As at the time of this report, the information from other Council Areas indicates that the zonal finals will be tough as all the Local Council Areas have put in a lot inspite of all the challenges.
However, the revived schools sports competition with glaring challenges have dampened the enthusiasms of these pupils, students and officials who have looked forward to showcasing their hidden talents.
It will be recalled that the competition which is the third edition commenced in March 2025 at the community level in all the 21 Local Government Areas of the State. Altogether eleven sporting events including athletics, ncho, basketball, chess, cricket, football, scrabble, swimming, table tennis, taekwando and volleyball for boys and girls in three age categories of U-12, U-14 and U-18.
