It was a fun-filled weekend at the Afor Adike Township Stadium Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra state as two finalists, Spa Lavender Football Team, Ire Village and Omenife & Osodieme football team, Ugamuma village battle for who will become the champions of the 2024 Energy Quest Obosi Inland Inter-Village Football Competition organised by the Obosi Development Union Worldwide.
The match which saw a very high intense show of dribbling, attacks and performances from both teams kept spectators on high spirit as the Ire team 17th-minute goal lasted to the 90th minutes when the referee gave a final whistle blow leaving Team Ire Village, the defending champions and without conceding a goal at the competition.
Ire team Coach Chukwueloka Ekpunobi said the tournament was a tough one as Ugamuma team has been a thorn in the flesh despite the fact that the Ire team was the defending champions. Appreciating the organisers of the tournament, he maintained that football has been a reuniting force among the Obosi people and also a tool that promotes love and unity among the youths.
He, however, pleaded with the organisers to emulate some communities whose prize money for the first position of the tournament is up to one million naira and above.
The coordinator of Ire Football Team, Mr. Emeka Okolo (Suker), while expressing happiness, said he is glad with the way the players displayed character, resilience, and determination. “Football have history, especially in Obosi, for the past twenty years, it has been a difficult play struggle winning Ugamuma team in the knock out stage but in group stage we win them. But this time, the team work in Ire team convinced us that they could do it and they did it without conceding any goal. We won it last year, and this year we did it again, so Ire team has made a record that will not be forgotten in the history of Obosi football tournament”.
“I want to use this opportunity to specially thank the Obosi Development Union and ODU sport Committee led by Barr. Chimezie Obi Ajeh Esq, the working president, I urge you to keep working strong for the progress of Obosi Community.
Earlier speaking, President General Obosi Development Union worldwide, Amb. Chimezie Obi Ajeh Esq., while stating that unity Quest Obosi Inland Inter Village Football Competition was a huge success, maintained that the significance of the tournament was a way of uniting the people of Obosi Community.
According to Barr. Obi, “In December 2023, four months into the life of the current administration of Obosi Development Union, the ODU Sports Committee led by Chinwendu Okoye (Ibb) organised Obosi Inter-Village Football Competition after seven years of redundancy due to lack of organisation and possible fear of attack by faceless individuals. Team Ire lifted the trophy to the delight of not a few”.
Exactly a year after, the feat was repeated at the Energy Quest Oilfield Services Obosi Inland Inter-Village Football Competition. The competition had its ups and downs, but overall, it was a season of joy, merriment, and togetherness. The competition was healthy. No untoward incident was recorded. Obosi won, in the end”.
“I want to especially appreciate Sony Ebunam (Akuyie Obosi) for identifying us as a global sponsor, Energy Quest Oilfield Services Ltd, he made it easy for the Sports Committee to sail effortlessly”.
“Kudos to the following for sticking out and standing with their respective villages: Okey Nwabunike (Oki Baba), who sponsored the Umuota team under the name of Nwabunike Umuezechima Football Team, Umuota,
Dr. Eric Nnamdi Anyamene (Ezenwa), who sponsored Mmakwum team under the name of Eric Nnamdi Anyamene Foundation Football Team, Mmakwum, Omezie Nwagbolu (Omeniga) who sponsored Uruowulu team under the name of Kofi Don Mechiano Football Team, Uruowulu, Nze Salobra Ogbazi (Omenife) who sponsored Ugamuma team under the name of Omenife & Osodieme Football Team, Ugamuma and the Empress Baywood (Adadioranma) who sponsored the Ire team under the name of Spa Lavender Football Team, Ire.
“We are equally grateful to Amb. Col. Sam Agbanusi who donated additional sums of money to the best three teams in the competition”.
According to the PG, “It was a gratifying time for us in ODU to see smiles and awes on the faces of our people, Let’s do it again at Easter.
He, however, called on all sons and daughters of Obosi to get ready to sponsor one of 16 teams from Obosi inland and Obosi Urban at Easter 2025, adding that application is now open for the Easter Football fiesta.
Meanwhile, cash prizes of five hundred thousand naira were given to the first winner, three hundred thousand to the second winner, and one hundred thousand to the third winner.
While Best Player award goes to Uzonna Ekwuno, Best Goal Keeper – Chidiebere Iloko and the Highest Goal Scorers were Okpu (Mmakwum), Kene Nwagbolu (Uruowulu) and Hazard (Mmakwum) went home with consolation prizes.
