The grand finale of the third edition of Senator Ike Ekweremadu-sponsored Ike-Oha U-18 Unity Cup comes up on Friday.
The final of the annual competition among for five local government councils under Ekweremadu’s senatorial district will see Aninri Local Government Area tackling Udi Local Government Area.
A giant trophy and over N1 million prize money are at stake.
To get to this stage, Udi came tops after a round robin mini league amassing nine points from four matches, winning three and losing only to Aninri, scoring seven goals and conceding two while their opponents, Aninri, also finished the mini league on nine points winning three and losing one scoring five goals and letting in two.
The main bowl of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu will play host to final match, with the Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime; tournament sponsor, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; Minister of Sports and Chairman National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, and other top government functionaries expected to grace the occasion.
Ahead of the closing event, the Chairman, Organizing Committee, Dr. Chris Mba, said that this year’s final promises to throw up some exciting talents that will be worthy ambassadors of the country in the nearest future.
Mba said: “With the quality of football we have seen these lads display these past weeks, I have no doubt that the competition has been able to satisfy one of the reasons of organizing it. In the nearest future, I am very sure that we will have players from this competition becoming good ambassadors of the state and country. No doubt, these two sides have all the qualities to be in the final and like they say, the turf of the stadium will suffer as these two exhibits their God given talents.”
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Organizing Committee, Engr. Michael Uzor, said: “This year’ competition has no doubt lived up to its billing by the quality of games we saw leading to the finals and the final match won’t be any different. I am sure that a few players would be selected for the country’ junior national team if the national selectors are present for this final match.”
In the classification match played at the main pitch of Police Training College, Oji-River, on Tuesday, last year’ champions, Awgu LGA, defeated Ezeagu 4-3 on penalties after full and extra time failed to produce any goal.
There will be prizes for the Most Valuable Player, Best Goalkeeper, Top Scorer, Best Behaved Team while the team of the tournament, to be selected by seasoned football technocrats, will be sponsored for overseas youth tournaments by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who has been sponsoring the competition since 2011.
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