Asagba Azinge Seeks Corporate Backing For Asaba City FC, Marathon Race
Asagba Azinge Seeks Sponsors for Asaba City Football Club, Marathon
THE Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Prof. Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge, SAN, OON, has appealed to residents, corporate organisations and sports enthusiasts to support the establishment of Asaba City Football Club and the development of grassroots sports.
The monarch made the appeal on 17 October 2026, when he received members of the Asaba Sports Committee at his palace.
He described the football club as a key initiative for discovering, nurturing and promoting talents from Asaba and neighbouring communities. Moreover, he said the project would create opportunities for young people, improve livelihoods and help address youth restiveness through productive engagement.
Azinge stressed that establishing a formidable football club remained a personal ambition he hoped to realise during his reign. However, he called for collective support to turn the vision into reality.
Meanwhile, the monarch expressed concern over sponsorship difficulties facing the second edition of the Asaba Marathon Race. He attributed some of the challenges to late preparations and urged the committee to engage prospective sponsors earlier and plan more effectively.
Recalling the maiden edition, Azinge said his personal commitment and support had helped drive the initiative. He maintained that the marathon could promote sports, attract visitors and enhance Asaba’s image.
Consequently, he urged businesses operating in Asaba and across Delta State to sponsor both the marathon and the football club. He noted that such partnerships could advance sports development while providing participating companies with publicity and wider brand visibility.
Earlier, the chairman of the Asaba Sports Committee told the monarch that the committee was struggling to secure reliable sponsorship for the forthcoming marathon.
The committee’s consultant, Dr. Moses Nwanze, disclosed that MTN Nigeria had indicated its willingness to assume full sponsorship responsibility from 2027. However, the company reportedly wanted to observe the second edition first to assess its organisation and identify areas for improvement.
Nwanze added that the committee had also approached Coca-Cola and Nigerian Breweries and was awaiting their responses.
In a separate update, Hon. Tony Pemu said the committee had completed the necessary arrangements for Asaba City Football Club to take off. Nevertheless, inadequate funding remained a major obstacle.
He therefore appealed for the monarch’s intervention and support, adding that the committee would continue seeking reputable sponsors to enable the club to begin full operations before the end of 2026.
With both initiatives facing financial challenges, the monarch’s appeal places renewed emphasis on partnerships between traditional institutions, businesses and the wider community to expand sporting opportunities for young people in Asaba.
