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Anthony Ujah’s grassroots football competition lights up Otukpo

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After reaching the top of European football through sheer determination and hard work, FC Cologne striker Anthony Ujah is giving back to his home town of Otukpo via a grassroots football tournament.
The second Anthony Ujah Grassroots Football competition kicked off on April 15 and would climax with a grand finale on June 7 that will be graced by the Super Eagles forward.

24-year-old Ujah, a shining light of the Idoma nation, recently signed a five year deal to move to Werder Bremen in the summer.

He has scored 10 goals for Cologne in the Bundesliga so far and earned recall to the Super Eagles for the friendly against Uganda in March.

While recognizing that many more football talents abound in Otukpo where he grew up, Ujah hopes that this competition would enable the world to discover future stars in the area.
“It is my little way of giving back to my hometown,” Ujah told Goal.

So far, 16 teams have been playing in the round robin competition which takes place at St Mary’s Primary School field, the home of his childhood club side Lucky Stars FC. It was the ground that prepared him for the challenge of Enyimba, Abuja FC and then Europe.

At the final on June 7, Ujah will present trophies and cash awards to the winners, first and second runners-up as well as individual awards for best player, highest goal scorer, among others.
The player has expressed interest in enlarging the scope of the competition to encompass the entire Idoma nation in subsequent editions. This would enable his local government of Ogbadibo, Okpokwu his place of birth, Otukpo and the Igede people of Ojuh/Obi the opportunity to participate in the competition.