By Jude Opara, Abuja

Three top South African teams; Ajax Cape Town, Jomo Cosmos and Golden Arrow FC are among the seven teams that have indicated their readiness to play in the first edition of the International Invitational Tournament tagged Africa for Peace holding next month in Oba, Anambra state.

In a statement issued in Abuja over the weekend, chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Alhaji Mustapha Mohammed also stated that Nigerian champions, Kano Pillars as well as FC Ifeanyi Ubah, Sunshine Stars and a yet to be disclosed national team will take part in the tournament billed to hold from 21-26 July.

The statement further revealed that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had through a letter signed by its General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, has given a provisional approval for the tourney.

Mohammed added that already arrangements are in top gear to ensure a hitch-free tournament, which he stated will help to shape the Nigerian teams for the second round of the Nigeria Premier League while the South Africans will use it as part of their pre-season engagements.

According to him, the choice of Anambra as the venue was to showcase to the rest of the world that the state has the facilities to host big events as well as help develop the followership of the game in the state.

He revealed that the organizing committee was in touch with notable Nigerians and corporate bodies to key into the programme towards making it a huge success.

“We have big clubs like FC Ifeanyi Ubah, Kano Pillars and Sunshine Stars and one of the national teams in a competition with teams from South Africa, you cannot expect anything less than a week of football fiesta in Anambra. He hinted that the matches may be live on television.