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By Ebube Dike

The Coordinator of Abia Warriors U-15 Academy, Patrick Ngwaogu has revealed that he has taken the positive points in the LMC/LALIGA U.15 tournament in Enugu where his team came out third, but regretted that the boys could not go beyond the group stage, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

Ngwaogu, who is the Match Reader of the Abia Warriors Football Club, said that a foundation for a great future for the young lads has already been laid by the Pastor Emeka Inyama led management of Abia Warriors Football Club as most of the boys were already enjoying the club’s scholarship to ensure they combine education with their football careers.

The Abia Warriors U-15 team missed qualifications with a whisker after winning two matches and losing same, but received plaudits from football fans and organisers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, where they competed alongside their counterparts from four other Nigeria Professional Football League sides like Insurance of Benin, FC Ifeanyi Ubah, Akwa United and Remo Stars.

Considering their youthful ages, the young Warriors from Umuahia showed so much promises that they became the toast of the spectators and organisers alike. The spectators applauded them ceaselessly whenever they were in action.

Despite missing qualification to the next round, the Umuahia warlords have the highest number of players selected from the Enugu centre by the organisers for possible invitation to the national teams in future.

From the 14 players selected from the participating teams, Abia Warriors produced 7 players. They include young goalkeeper, Chiedozie Eze, defender, Romanus Nzubechi, midfielders, Chidera Chukwuemeka and Ogonna Okoro, winger, Ndubueze Chidiebube Obi and strikers, Michael Chima and Victor Okpara.

Left-footed Ogonna came out as the top scorer with four goals in the Enugu centre, while the Captain of the team, Obi Ndubueze Chidiebube was adjudged as youngest player and goalkeeper Chiedozie Eze was the youngest and best goalkeeper of the centre.

According to the Coordinator of the Enugu centre, Gbenga Afolabi who could not hide his admiration for the youngsters from Umuahia, said that there was so much talent in the young team and advised the Management of Abia Warriors to keep the boys together for the future.

According to him, “if this is done, Abia Warriors main team will have no reason to look for players elsewhere in the nearest future”.