Ijaw/Itsekiri Peace Cup: Kolokolo FC trashes Kurutie 4-2 to Clinch Trophy

Ijaw/Itsekiri Peace Cup: Kolokolo FC trashes Kurutie 4-2 to Clinch Trophy

...... As Mulade called on well meaning Deltans, government, multi-national oil companies, other NGOs to partner with CEPEJ in sustaining the football tournament 

Oyinbi Onduku 

Warri____ The third edition of Ijaw/Itsekiri Peace and Unity cup, also known as Comrade Sheriff Mulade Peace and Unity football tournament came to an end in a very colourful manner on the 3rd December, 2022 at Ugborodo Community pitch in Warri South-West LGA of Delta State with Kolokolo FC beaten Kurutie FC 4-2 in a penalty shoot out to clinched the trophy.

The cultural like carnival  grand finale football tournament attracted great personalities both from ltsekiri and ljaw ethnic nationality, representatives from the Pere of Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom, the Olu of Warri, the Pere of Gbaramantu kingdom, Delta State Sports Commission, ex-Nigeria football internationals, Nigerian Army, Navy, Police Force, DSS, including the Executive Director of PIND Foundation, Mr. Tunji Idowu, who was ably represented by High Chief. Lawal Africas,  Traditional Chiefs, Civil Society groups and other dignitaries too numerous to mentioned.

It also featured cultural dance display from both the ljaw and ltsekiri ethnic nationality as well as fast growing upcoming ljaw born Hip-hop stars such as Dollar girl, Zion man among others to spice up the grand finale ceremony to be enjoyable by spectators.

However, Uboghoro FC defeated Ogbe-ljoh FC 1-0 to emerged third position and go home with the sum of five hundred thousand naira. While Kolokolo FC trashed Kurutie FC 4-2 in a penalty shoot out to clinched the first position  with one million naira alongside other consolation prizes. And the second position goes to Kurutie FC with the sum of seven hundred thousand naira cash gift respectively.

Meanwhile, Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom FC emerged the well behaved team in this year's edition and they where rewarded awesomely with undisclosed sum of cash gift by the organizer of the tournament.

Speaking to the press shortly after the competition, the sponsor of the tournament, Comrade (Chief). Mulade Sheriff, who is the lbe-sorimowei of Gbaramantu kingdom congratulated the winners Kolokolo FC, Kurutie FC and Uboghoro FC. He thanked God for a successful tournament, as well as charged those from the area to always turn up for such very important programme.

According to Mulade, said: " The ljaw and the ltsekiri communities are the economic life wire of Delta State because of the natural resources, especially crude oil and gas deposited in their land. And by implication, if there is crisis between these two ethnic groups, the economy of the state in particular, and Nigeria in general would be at stake and greatly affected.

" I want to use this medium to call on well meaning Deltans, critical stakeholders, multi-national oil companies operating in the region, NGOs and others to partner with CEPEJ to sustain this very important annual football tournament in order to ensure a sustainable peace between the ljaws and ltsekiris in the state."

Mulade further 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, the statement added.

On his part, the representative of the Executive Director of PIND Foundation, Mr. Tunji Idowu hailed Comrade Sheriff Mulade for organizing the Peace and Unity football tournament in uniting the ljaws and Itsekiris in Warri South-West LGA. He said PIND Foundation is elated seeing one of its member Mulade doing great project in preaching peace and unity through football tournament amongst the ljaws and ltsekiris in Delta State, Chief Lawal Africas stated.

In his reaction, ex-Nigeria football international, Mr. Bright 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.