By Roland Ike, Abakaliki
The Ebonyi state Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Charlse Akpu-Enika on Tuesday, dazzled in goal during a valedictory football match for the present administration in the state.
Akpu-Enika who was in goal for the state Executive Council (EXCO) members team, shone brillantly in 5-4 penalty win victory over the House of Assembly team with regulation time ending 0-0.
The commissioner parried all shots thrown at him, intercepted all crosses and saved a penalty during the shoot-out to the delight fans which included Governor David Umahi.
Fans who thronged the Pa Ngele Oruta stadium Abakaliki under floodlights, were awed by Akpu-Enika’s reflexes and general command of his goalkeeping area, wondering if he was still into active football.
The commissioner said after the encounter that he was formerly an active goalkeeper and still trains in that department despite the schedules of office. “I love goalkeeping, still adore active goalkeepers and formed my goalkeeping model after the legendary Dino Zoff of Italy.
“I am happy to have secured victory for the EXCO team and that was a fitting send-forth to an administration that revolutionised sports and other sectors of the state. Governor Umahi in his remarks, commended participants in the series of valecdictory matches for displaying great football artistry and entertaining the fans.
“Jesus Christ after working, sought a lonely place to relax with his disciples. It is then proper that we should abandon our problems and find time to laugh and talk,”. He described the series of matches as the best he had ever witnessed from his days as the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
The governor jokingly told the EXCO team that by winning the house of assembly team, they had excluded themselves from the next administration. “You could had wisely allowed the match as a draw, to show loyalty to the governor-elect who is the speaker of the house of assembly.
“The Assocation of Local Government Areas of Nigeria (ALGON) team was wise to lose to the judiciary because it has the power of live and death,” he said jokingly.
The other matches saw the judiciary team beating ALGON 3-1 on penalties while the match between the governor’s wife team A and B, ended goalless.
