Ijaw/Itsekiri Peace And Unity Cup, Ogidigben FC Trashes Okerenkoko 5-4 To Clinch Trophy, As Mulade Assures Best 25 Players To Be Featured In NPFL

Ijaw/Itsekiri Peace And Unity Cup, Ogidigben FC Trashes Okerenkoko 5-4 To Clinch Trophy, As Mulade Assures Best 25 Players To Be Featured In NPFL

Francis Tayor

Warri____ The 2019 second edition of Ijaw/Itsekiri Peace and Unity cup, also known as Comrade Sheriff Mulade Peace and Unity football tournament came to a spectacular end on the 29th November, 2019 at Benikrukru Community pitch with Ogidgben Fc beaten Okerenkoko Fc 6-5 to clinched the trophy.

The cultural like carnival  grand finale football tournament attracted great personalities both from ltsekiri and ljaw ethnic nationality, including the Prince of Niger Delta who is an oil magnate, Sir. Matthew Tonlagha, Hon. Taye Duke Tuoyo, Chairman Warri South-West LGA, Chief. Godspower Gbenekama, the Fiyeowei of Gbaramantu Kingdom, Hon. Seigha Porbeni who represented the Chairman Delta State Sports Commission, Mr. Tony Okowa, the DPO Warri Area Commander, Mohammed Garba, traditional chiefs, Civil Society groups and other dignitaries too numerous to mentioned.

Adjudiabo Fc defeated Kunukunuma Fc 4-1 to emerged third position and go home with the sum of five hundred thousand naira. While Ogidigben Fc trashed Okerenkoko Fc 6-5 after a penalty shoot out to clinched the first position  with one million naira and other consolation prizes. Whereas, the second position goes to Okerenkoko Fc with the sum of seven hundred thousand naira cash gift respectively.

Speaking to the press shortly after the competition, the sponsor of the tournament, Comrade Mulade Sheriff congratulated the winners Ogidigbein, Okerenkoko and Ajudiabo. He thank God for a successful tournament, as well as charges those from the area to always turn up for such programme.

According to Mulade, " We are already working towards the 3rd edition that will comprises the ljaws, Itsekiri and Urhobo. I want to assure that, the 25 best players that will be selected from this 2nd edition are going to form a coastal team that will be featured in Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). However, l called on NFA to look into the ljaw/Itsekiri Peace and Unity football tournament beyond local competition and pick best players from the tournament to play in the Nigeria National team, Mulade stated."

On his part, the representative of the Chairman Delta State Sports Commission, Mr Seigha Porbeni hailed Mulade for organizing the Peace and Unity football tournament in uniting the ljaws and Itsekiris in Warri South-West. He assured Mulade of Delta State government readiness to partner with him in the 2020 3rd edition of the tournament, Porbeni concluded.

In his reaction, the Fiyeowei of Gbaramantu kingdom, Chief Godspower Gbenekama  commended Mulade for his selfless services to humanity. He called on the Delta State government for the sustenance of the tournament in order to ensure lasting peace between the ljaws and ltsekiris in Warri South-West.

Also speaking at the occasion is the Warri Area Commander Nigeria Police Force, Mr. Garba Muhammed thank Amb. Mulade and charges him to keep the good work. He said with  programmes like this, there will be no room for hatred and plan to hurt your neighbour. He assures the organizer of the tournament of his readiness to be around in the forthcoming 2020 3rd edition.