Owerri Set For Historic Kick-Off As Dan Anyiam U-15 Memorial Tourny Begins Saturday

The city of Owerri is set to come alive this weekend as the maiden edition of the Late Dan Anyiam U-15 Memorial Football Tournament officially kicks off on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the Old Township Stadium, Owerri, by 3:00pm.

The highly anticipated youth football fiesta, powered by Mr. Anderson WorldBest Anyiam, Chief Executive Officer of WorldBest Pharmaceuticals, is being staged in honour of his late uncle, Dan Anyiam, one of Nigeria's foremost footballers and pioneering coaches whose contributions helped shape the history of football in the former Eastern Nigeria.

The tournament is designed not only to immortalise the enduring legacy of the football icon, but also to provide a platform for discovering, nurturing and exposing the next generation of football talents to proper development.

According to the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), 16 teams will participate in the two-week competition, divided into four groups of four teams each. The young footballers are expected to provide exciting displays of skill, creativity and football artistry as they battle for the coveted trophy and other attractive prizes.

In addition to the team prizes, individual awards will be presented to outstanding performers, including the Most Valuable Player, Top Scorer and Best Goalkeeper, among others.

Speaking on the significance of the competition, the sponsor, Anderson WorldBest Anyiam, an ex-footballer, business executive and founder of the Anderson Joe Anyiam Foundation and WorldBest Football Academy, said the tournament represents a commitment to giving young footballers an opportunity to discover their potential and pursue a structured pathway to greatness.

Beyond competition, the organisers said the memorial tournament is a deliberate investment in the future of Nigerian football, using the legacy of Dan Anyiam as a bridge between the rich history of the game and the talents of tomorrow.

Late Dan Anyiam was a distinguished national team player and one of the foremost coaches of Spartans FC, the historic Owerri-based club which later metamorphosed into Iwuanyanwu Nationale and subsequently Heartland FC. His contribution to the development of football in the region remains a significant part of the state's sporting history.

The LOC believes that keeping his memory alive through youth football is a fitting tribute to a man whose life was dedicated to the development of the beautiful game.

The opening ceremony is expected to attract prominent personalities from government, football administration, sports, business and the wider society.

Among dignitaries expected are the Imo State Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Obinna Onyeocha; Heartland FC Technical Manager, Emmanuel Amuneke, MON; Imo State Football Association Chairman, Barr. Ifeanyi Dike, alongside other football stakeholders and dignitaries.

With the stage set and 16 ambitious teams ready for action, Owerri is poised for a memorable celebration of football, youth development and the enduring legacy of one of Imo State's football pioneers.

The maiden Late Dan Anyiam U-15 Memorial Football Tournament promises to be more than a competition—it is a legacy project aimed at discovering the stars who could someday write the next chapter of Nigerian football