The keenly contested youth football competition which final and semi-final were played at the Owa Primary School playground, Owa-Oyibu, Ika North-East Local Government Area, started at about 2.30pm. It was indeed a competition that saw the two teams for the final event, Owa-Alero Football Club and Owa-Nta Football Club getting fagged out at the blow of the last whistle.
During the third place match which was played at the same venue, just before the final competition, the Owa Ofie youths locked horns with their Owa-Oyibu counterparts who had earlier lost to Owa-Nta Football Club by 2-4 in a penalty shootout, after a goalless draw; thereby beating Owa-Oyibu 2-1 right inside their back yard, due to the tactful and mesmerizing antics of the Ofie boys. At the end of the match, both teams were however commended for putting in their best all through the game.
When the final event was kicked off by Hon. Justice (Chief) S.A. Ehiwarior (Rtd), the Okiroro of Owa kingdom, it all action in the football field from the blow of the first whistle till the last. The two teams, Owa-Nta Football Club, in their orange-coloured jersey and the Owa-Alero boys in their deep blue-colored jersey filed into the field to prove their superiority over each other. During the first half of the football competition, it was somehow difficult to determine which side was gaining the upper hand, even though a beautiful goal was scored by an Owa-Alero youth just 11 minutes into the match. The whole field went into a frenzy after the first goal by the Alero boys. At a time it became very difficult for the ever-increasing crowd of spectators to be contolled by law enforcement agents, as they kept pushing and pressing into the field to get a clearer view of the game.
During the second half of the competition, the tempo was kept up until about 18 minutes to the end of the match; when the vivacious Owa-Alero boys dropped in another surprise by scoring another goal. That second goal, however, dampened the spirit of the opposing side as they fought sluggishly till the end of the match. The competition ended 2-0 in favour of the Owa Alero boys.
Speaking after the competition, the coach of the winning team, Mr. Friday Otobo, aka, Coach said that he was very happy with the outcome of the competition. He explained that his boys have done everybody proud by putting in their best after months of rigorous training. He also thanked the match officials for a job well done.
Also speaking, the co-ordinator of the youth football competition, Hon. Innocent Agbomah, Leader of Ika North East Legislative House told Ika Weekly that he was indeed very happy for the success of the competition. He said that from the beginning of the football match to the end there was no serious casualty and that it all went according to plan. He explained that it was in the spirit of oneness and in commemoration of the 50th coronation anniversary of His Royal Majesty, Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor II (JP) OON, the Obi of Owa kingdom and the Owa Day Festival, that the football competition was played. He praised the leadership of the Obi and the Obi-in-Council for supporting the youths in the area and prayed God to continually bless the Obi and grant him more healthy years on the throne.
Trophies were later presented to the third place winner, Owa-Oyibu Football Club, the second place winner, Owa-Nta Football Club and the first place winner, Owa-Alero Football Club. Prizes were also given to the best player of the competition and the best goal keeper in the presence of the chiefs and dignitaries at the occasion.
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