All is now set for the commencement of the first-ever Udala Nationwide League One (NLO) pre-season tournament slated for Nanka, Anambra State.

The 8-team tournament, which features only NLO teams, who are based in the South-East region, will run from 8th to 14th February, 2021 at Neros stadium.

The teams are Enyimba Feeders of Aba, Umuahia-based Right 2 Win FC, Cynosure of Abakiliki and Ingas of Enugu. The others are Nnewi side Goddosky, hosts Udala FC of Uke, Aspire FC of Adazi-Ani and a yet-to-be –determined team.

A draw ceremony, which will see the 8 teams divided into two groups of four teams each, will be held on Sunday, 7th February in Nanka.

Coordinator of the tournament and Member, Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA) Ralph Chidozie George says the Udala NLO Pre-season competition is aimed at preparing the NLO teams in the region for the commencement of the new season, which is expected to kick off next month.

“This tournament is put together to prepare teams that really showed interest to take part; teams from the South-East, especially to prepare them well for the NLO season expected to kick-off in a date yet to be fixed, but the NLO say it would be in early March,” the veteran Sports Journalist told www.busybuddiesng.com. “So, this is to prepare the teams properly for the NLO season.

“And also, you know it’s always been NPFL pre-season, NPFL pre-season, and the NLO teams just tag along. They never had their own real NLO pre-season. So, we decided to put this together to, at least, have a real pre-season for all NLO teams, especially those in the South-East.”

Following inactivity in Nigeria’s third-tier league since the 2018/2019 season, the NLO teams will surely see the Udala Pre-season tournament as a welcome development.

The tournament, which is sponsored by President of NLO side Udala FC High Chief Philip Chinonso Udala, offers N200, 000 to the winners and N100, 000 to the runners-up.