A man, Polly Emenike, who wholly sponsored the Nanka champions League for over 40 years, has won recognition from the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria and the management of Rangers International Football Club of Enugu.

The bodies poured encomium on Mr Emenike for the feat. The league is for Nanka indigenes living across Nigeria.

Mkpor branch won the 40th edition of the championship on January 2 after winning their final match 1-0 against Umuahia branch at the NEROS stadium in Nanka, Orumba-North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The result of the match, witnessed by the President, Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, made Nkwor team six-time winners of the competition.

In his reaction, the Chairman of SWAN in Anambra, Chimezie Anaso, said that Mr Emenike was a great gift to Anambra and football in particular.

Mr Anaso, who led members of the association to present a pair of jerseys to the football financier, said that apart from sponsoring the Nanka Champions League, Mr Emenike also single-handed sponsored the Anambra FA cup for about two decades.

He said nothing could be more convincing about his love for sports and football in particular than the fact that he converted an ecological disaster area, Nanka Erosion, to a standard football stadium.

“You have been our patron for over 15 years, and your continued contributions to sports development justify that choice. We want to reassure you of our commitment to a continued partnership.

“We present to you this set of jerseys, the last in our collections, as a memento and approval of all you have been doing on this 40th sponsorship anniversary,” Mr Anaso said

On his part, the General Manager of Rangers International Football Club of Enugu, Amobi Ezeaku, said the annual Nanka Champions League had impacted positively on football development in Anambra, South East and Nigeria in general.

Mr Ezeaku, who presented the Rangers FC badge to Mr Emenike, said it was not an easy task to have sponsored a tournament for 40 years without break.

He said the Nanka Champions League had provided opportunity for the youth to showcase their talents and pursue careers in football.

The Rangers general manager announced automatic slots for the best-rated four players in the competition by his clubs in the next open screening for players ahead of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Professional Football League season.

Other groups which made presentations to the pharmaceutical manufacturing giant were Nanka All Stars and the 11 teams that participated in the League.

(NAN)