News: Aba (The Magic City) hosts 2014 marathon.

The Aba Township Marathon is a medium-distance running event. It is an annual event on the Calendar of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN). The second edition is slated to hold on December 21, 2014. rounding up the 2014 athletics calendar of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).
Overview
Magic FM 102.9, the first private station in Aba, Abia State, which began operations on May 15, 2013, inaugurates the race. The race will begin at the gate of Magic 102.9 FM at Kilometre 3, Aba-Opobo Road, head to Opobo Junction, before it courses left to Enugu-Port Harcourt Express Way. At the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, the runners will head back into town, through MCC Road, Faulks Road, and Azikiwe and finish in the Enyimba International Stadium. This is a 21.1 Kilometre course, which makes the competition, a half-marathon.
Categories
In terms of classification, the following have been identified.
◾Men
◾Women
◾Seniors
◾Groups
Accordingly, there will be prizes for men, women, girls, boys, seniors (men) Seniors (women) and then group runners (gangs) that already exist in the city.
Social Value
Aba is a popular commercial and manufacturing centre. It is the biggest market in the old Eastern Region. It has a population of about 2 million people. States like Ebonyi, Enugu, Rivers and Bayelsa States depend on the Aba markets for supplies of fast moving consumer goods (FMCG,) locally processed textiles, and hardware.
However, all sorts of problems have stunted Aba’s growth. The most devastating was the recent breakdown of security. That has been overcome with the strident efforts of the state government and contributions of the private sector. With that overcome, the city is in transition, rebuilding itself. Confidence is at the highest peak. Prospects for growth has been buoyed by the construction of two huge power plants. It is projected that power will be stable in Aba earlier than in other cities and areas.
Secondly, Aba people love sports. It is home to the Enyimba Football Club, the first Nigeria Club side to win the prestigious champions leagues (twice). Beyond soccer, Aba people are crazy about athletics.  On weekends, especially Sunday mornings, the streets are filled with runners. These runners are potentials professional sportsmen, who if given the chance, can make or break record.
As an organization, Magic FM wishes to provide platform of opportunity for these youths to be discovered by the AFN. This is why we have chosen the theme “Running to Reignite the Aba Magic”.
If you are interested and you want to find out more about the program, or you just want to drop a note to the organisers, click this spot to do so.