Nanka Champions League (formerly, Nanka Unity Cup) was established in the late 70s, when Nanka Patriotic Union through Reverend Ezeilo was at the helm. The competition was administered by Social Tony.
In 1983, Prof Poly Emenike MON, Odenigbo Nanka, MD and CEO, NEROS Pharmaceuticals Ltd, then, known as London Boy took over the sponsorship of the competition. The total prize money for the tournament was about N1,000. His sponsorship of the tournament was passion driven, not due to abundance of wealth. His desire to unite Nanka as a town and most especially, the youths, was uppermost in his mind.
The grace of wealth shined upon Prof Emenike, that in 2003, the prize money was increased to N1,000,000 (first prize was N500,000, second prize was N300,000 while the third prize was N200,000) with Lagos, Students Union and Ota branches smiling home with these massive prizes.
The grace of multiplication continued to locate Odenigbo Nanka with another increment taking place in 2006. First, second and third prizes were at N1,000,000, N600,000 and N400,000 respectively. Students Union and Port Harcourt branches got the two topmost prizes.
In 2012, Prof Poly Emenike completed the first phase of NEROS Sports Stadium, Nanka and the tournament venue got shifted there from Isigwunwagu playing pitch.
The relocation to NEROS Sports Stadium attracted another 50% increment in the prize monies; the first prize mounted to N1,500,000, second prize got up to N900,000 while the third prize got to N600,000.
While all these were happening, the tournament was gaining massive publicity, popularity and attention with the state and the country. Rangers International F.C was always a regular guest in Nanka to grace novelty matches every December 31. This trend created a quantum leap in the acceptance of Nanka Champions League in Anambra as number one Christmas tournament in Anambra State, South East and Nigeria.
This list is endless based on the attention and goodwill this Nanka Champions League has attracted to the land of the elite. The town later became known as the sports city.
In 2011, Prof Poly Emenike was awarded the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan administration as the president of Nigeria.
Many rivers have been crossed, the slogan still remains that the brighter future if Nanka Champions League is still ahead of us.
Kudos to Odenigbo Nanka as he has birthed a group known as Nanka Football Patriots, a group of young Millionaires from Nanka that wish to partner him in sustaining the legacy he created.
The future is indeed bright.
