Ends 2011 golf and tennis sponsorshipsNIGERIAN Breweries (NBL) has donated N1 million to Ridge Club, Umuahia, Abia State, to facilitate the re-building of the clubhouse, which was razed by fire on the eve of the first edition of the NBL-sponsored tennis tournament in 2010.The donation was announced to club members on Sunday by the brewer's managing director, Nicolaas Vervelde, at the closing ceremony of the 2011 Abia State Open Tennis Tournament, also sponsored by the company at the club.Vervelde, represented by the NBL Aba Brewery Manager, Ukeje Udah, told the club members and tournament participants drawn from the Eastern Zone that his company was concerned about the fire disaster but happy it did not impede its tournament sponsorship.He said: 'NBL has a robust corporate social responsibility profile that enables her to connect positively with the society; this tournament offers a good opportunity to enhance this connection and further show our support for sports development in the country.'The company had, the previous Sunday, sponsored Aba Club's Amateur Open Golf Tournament, and at the closing ceremony the NBL Managing Director, represented by Udah, said his company 'over the years appreciates the organisation, participation and standard this golf tournament has attained, hence our continued sponsorship.'The Aba Sports Club President, Chibuike Nwokeukwu, described NBL as, ' the greatest supporter and sponsor of all sportingactivities of the club.' In bothAba (golf)and Umuahia(tennis)tournaments, prizes ranging from refrigerators, television sets, DVD players to fans, among others, were given to 56 winners, 28 at each tournament.In the Aba golf tournament, 25-year oldEmmanuel Onumajuru of Aba Club, who said he started playing golf as a caddy, emerged the overall winner with 144 score. Similarly, in the Umuahia tennis tournament, Chuke Ifebueme of Umuahia Sports Club emerged the overall winner with 22 points.
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