History was made today, as a teenager, Ugwunnaya Chiedozie Erondu, age 11, broke record to become the first youngest football analyst in Nigeria.
Delivery his speech at the event held at the indoor Sports Hall of Umuahia Township stadium, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development in Abia state, Hon Emeka Ikwuagwu, expressed gratitude to the Sports loving Governor of the State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, whose love for sports has rejuvenated sporting activities in the state.
According to the Commissioner, the Governor’s support for sports birthed what the Sports Ministry is celebrating today, adding that the Governor would always do the needful and support those in sports.
Chief Ikwuagwu further stated that the award given to young Erondu was in recognition of the boy’s insight and understanding of the round leather game which has taken him to many media houses to talk football.
Recall that the youngest football analyst recently undertook a media tour of Television stations in Lagos, visiting notable stations like Rave TV, Galaxy TV, Arise News as well as Channels TV and TVC.
While congratulating young Chiedozie Erondu for blazing the trail in football Analysis,urged him not to relent on his interest for sports,rather build more on the talent.
Also, the Commissioner, revealed that the annual School sports festival where young talents are uncovered could not hold this year due to the Covid 19 outbreak.
Addressing newsmen, shortly after receiving the award,young Erondu appreciated God and the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development for finding him qualified for the award, lauding the giant strides of the Governor of the state on the area, thanking him for the uncommon recognition.
Also, the Father of the young analyst, and a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on General Duties, Erondu Erondu Jnr, expressed joy over the award given to his son.
According to him,young Erondu never copied the interest of analysing football from him,as many people would think, but suddenly developed the interest, having been seeing the elder brother, Ebuka Erondu, play football.
“At first,I never supported my sons watching, playing and analysing football at the detriment of their acedemic work.I would always shout and flog them,but the more i flog them,the more they develop interest for football,so i decided to leave them.Today, see the kind of honour Chiedozie,a Primary five pulpil is bringing to me”.
“Am happy, two of them are doing well in the game, while Ebuka has become a star player, Chiedozie is a football analyst”,he continued.
The father prayed for God to guide them through the career they have chosen for themselves successfully.
In an interview, the Commissioner for Homeland Security, Prince Dan Okoli,said he was excited seeing a boy of 11, bag the award of an Analyst, stating that it is a sign of good things to come.
According to Prince Okoli, he had always known Abia to be a gold mine, where good things are unraveled and today, young Erondu has justified that claim.
While commending the leadership of the Sports Commissioner for putting a midas touch in his administration through the catch them young initiative, school sports festival where raw talents are discovered, urged him to continue in his vision, so that Abia could be the centre of young talents.
He further lauded the Governor of the state,Dr Okezie Ikpeazu for his love and interest in sports, which has brought tremendous lift in sporting activities in the state.
Chiedozie Erondu was alongside honoured with Adaeze Michael, a Sport Analyst in one of the leading Radio stations in Umuahia.
‘Really caught young. I hope young Erondu will sustain the present tempo. It’s more grease to his elbow