By Edema Fuludu

Community Secondary Commercial School, C.S.C.S has emerged champions of the maiden Akwa Ibom State Netball Challenge competition after defeating State College Ikot Ekpene by 6-4 on Tuesday

The two-day challenge was was held at the outdoor multi-purpose court of West Itam Secondary School, Itam, Uyo (Akwa Ibom State) with Nine secondary schools participating

The schools are: C.S.C.S. Ikot Ekpeyak, C.S.C.S. Ikot Okubo; Ndikpo Grammar School; State College Ikot Ekpene, C. S. S. Ikot Akpa Etok Ibesikpo, West Itam Secondary School. C.S.C.S. Ikot Ekpeyak, C. S. C. S. Ibiaku Itam, and Offot Ukwa secondary School Uyo)

The competition was coordinated by Dr Grace Ataha and powered by CSED (Community Sports and Educational Development) Initiative.

The event was held as part of CSED Initiative “Project 2027” netball grassroots development programme, which aims to bring netball to the attention of one million female students in Nigeria, before the end of 2027. 

The Director of Sports of the Akwa Ibom State Secondary Schools Board, Mr Emmanel Ebong attended the two-day event and presented winning medals to the top three schools, as well as a trophy to the winning school, C.S.C.S. Ibiaku Itam.

In the third place play-off match, West Itam Secondary School defeated C.S. C.S. Ikot Ekpeyak by 14-6. Despite the occasional rain that disrupted some of the matches, the students of the participating schools, were defiant, as they wanted to show some of the netball skills that they have learned from their P.E. (Physical Education) Teachers.

The Brass Band of Adiaha Obong Secondary School was on hand to serenade the attendees with their melodic drumming. A follow-up practical training of 46 trained netball P.E. Teachers is going to hold in three different zones (Eket, Ikot Ekpene and Uyo) in the state on 5th July 2023.