By Andy Emephia
With a superb 75th minute strike, NO 11 Jersey for Umuolo quarters , Destiny Abiakwunye, scored the lone goal ,against Ogbekenu quarters to lift the fifth edition of the Olona Unity Cup 2024, sponsored by one time Speaker of the State House of Assembly and immediate past Executive Director of Cabbotage and Legal Services of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA), Rt Hon Engr Victor Ochei, Esq.
For their victory, the champions carted home with the giant trophy as well as a mouth watering #2m prize money inclusive of the golden winners medals tied as joint highest goal scorers.
The runners up, Ogbekenu quarters, where the former Speaker hails from, went home with the runners up trophy and #1.5m prize money.
In the same vein , Idumuje Olona quarters , carted home the third place trophy and #1m after thrashing Agba quarters 5__0 at the epic third place match earlier played.
The pulsating epic final match between eventual champions , Umuolo quarters , and second placed Ogbekenu , truly lived up to it’s pre match billing as the Donald Ochei ultra modern stadia built by Rt Hon Engr Victor Ochei , was filled to overflow.
The epic final, in which the sole sponsor of the Olona Unity Cup 2024, Rt Hon Ochei , took the kick off , witnessed deep incursions by the winners into Ogbekenu,s 18 yard box amidst superlative saves by Ogbekenu,s talented goalkeeper , Ekene Korea.
In the 42nd minute of the first half , Umuolo was awarded a penalty on a hand ball offence by an Ogbekenu defender in their 18 yard box , but the resultant kick taken by Captain for Umuolo, Junior Chukwudi , was superbly saved via a deft parry by on form Ogbekenu goalkeeper , Ekene korea.
Other individual prizes such as Most Valuable Player ( MVP), highest goal scorer and best goalkeeper of the tournament , attracted #100,000 each, thus bringing the total prize money of the Olona unity cup 2024 , to #4.8m.
Destiny Abiakwunye , from Umuolo quarters , went home with the most valuable player award , while Bazim lsaac, also from Champions Umuolo village , took the best goalkeeper award .
Chinedu Chinye Nkewehe from Ogbekenu Village and Williams Nwambuonwor from Idumuje Village tied at Highest Goal scorer.
The epic final of the tournament was watched by the ecstatic spectators which included Mrs Hannatu Ochei, Sir Dan Okenyi, Uzoma ldabor ( UZ), Hon Gabriel Okpuno, Major General Ochei, Ogbueshi Anazia , President General of Onicha Olona Development Union , and Olona born reggae artiste Kandy sea, Oge kimono among others
