The 5 days intercommunity football competition organised by NEPL/ND Western JV, OML 34 Asset Management Team among it’s major host communities came to an end on Saturday with Otu Jeremi Football Club in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State emerging the winner of the maiden edition of the tournament.
The final of the tournament which took place at Otu Jeremi stadium in Ughelli South LGA of Delta state saw Otu Jeremi FC defeating Iwhrekan FC by 3 goals to 1 through a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw at full time, while the third place march went to Eruemukohwarien FC.
The winner of the tournament smiled home with the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand naira while the first and second runner-up went home with the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand naira and one hundred thousand naira respectively.
According to Mrs. Temitope Onibudo, Manager, NEPL (LTD) and ND Western (NDW), OML 34 Assets Management Team (AMT), the tournament was part of the effort in promoting peaceful co-existence among youths in its various host communities.
Mrs. Onibudo who spoke to journalists on behalf of the Manager, Government Community Security Department (GCSD), NEPL (LTD) and ND Western (NDW), OML 34 Assets Management Team (AMT), Mr. Sheidu Aiguedo, noted that football is a unifying factor all over the world since it promotes unity, fairness, and sportsmanship.
“We all know that football is a unifier all over the world. Football is huge and it is all about unity, fairness, and sportsmanship, That is one of the things we want to promote as an asset “What we want to say to the youths in our host communities is that we want to let them know that we will continue to promote peace, unity, and fairness. We want to encourage young persons in the communities to put their energy into something fruitful, meaningful and productive instead of trying to go into crime or other social vices.
“It is better for the youths to put their strength and energy into something that is productive and can take them anywhere in the world because they might be here today but might not know where they will be tomorrow.
“So if they continue to do this, it will not only help them to express themselves in terms of their capabilities, and capacities but also expose them to the world because you don’t know who is watching and we don’t know how far these videos and program will go. It can lead them anywhere and it can open doors for them. It is just for us to encourage them to focus on the right thing and do the right thing.
“We want to thank all our host communities and their leaders for working together with us to make sure that we bring this to our communities. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with them and make sure that everything goes well with us and them,” Onibudo said.
The President General of the Otu Jeremi community, Prince Godwin Jeje, commended NEPL/, ND Western for organizing the tournament stressing that it has fostered harmony and peace among all the host communities.
“Bringing this tournament to our community to establish peace amongst us is commendable and we are grateful for this because it will enable us to live in peace and harmony with one another,” Jeje said.
It will be recalled that the NEPL/ND Western Asset Management Team has at the inception of the tournament said it is considering expanding the competition to include more communities in the area.
Highlights of the tournament were the presentation of medals and trophies to the winners.
Otu Jeremi FC, winners of the tournament
