Pix: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (middle), Rev. Fr. John Konyeke, the Parish Priest of Catholic Church of Ascension,Asaba Issele-Uku Diocese (right) and Rev. Fr. Patrick Anyanwu, the Parish Priest of Stella Maris Catholic Church, Yenogoa, Bayelsa State. during the 1st Clergymen Tennis Tournament held in Government House.
The 1st Delta State Clergymen’s Tennis Championship in Asaba came to a close Wednesday night in Asaba with Rev. Fr. John Konyeke emerging as overall winner.
In a keenly contested match, Rev Fr. Konyeke, who is the Parish Priest of Catholic Church of the Ascension, Asaba, defeated Rev. FR. Patrick Anyanwu, Parish Priest, Stella Maris Catholic Church, Yenagoa, Bomadi Vicariate in two straight sets of 6-4, 6-1.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan charged all Nigerians to engage in one form of exercise or the other in order to keep fit and be healthy.
He said that participation in physical exercises would help both the young and the aged to be fit and reduce health risks stressing “no matter how busy you are, please find time to exercise yourself, you can either swim, play tennis or other games or even walking, we have provided sporting facilities in different parts of the state for you to go and exercise yourself”.
“I enjoin you all to pick the racket and take part in an exercise, you are not too old to start, there are exercises for different ages and levels”, he added.
The governor commended the clergymen for ministering to both the spiritual and physical aspects of their parishioners and urged them to continue in their good work.
Earlier, the Tournament Co-coordinator and winner of the championship, Rev. Fr. Konyeke who disclosed that fourteen priests drawn from Delta, Bayelsa and Anambra States took part in the tournament as well as commended Governor Uduaghan for sponsoring the tournament and giving them the opportunity to exercise and build themselves physically.