By Ikenna Nwokedi 

Ire Village have emerged as the champions for the 2024 edition of the Ifiteana Onwa Asato Football Tournament in Enugwu-Ukwu bankrolled by Ozonkpu Offia Ogwu Amobi Okafor and Ifeoma Nwegbene.

In a pulsating final encounter played at the St. Theresa's Catholic Parish Field, Enugwu-Ukwu on Saturday, 7th September 2024, Ire Village saw off Umuatulu/Oraofia Village 5-4 on penalty shootouts after the match ended scoreless at the end of regulation time.

Ire Village who were presented with a winning trophy and gold medals smiled home with the sum of N350,000 while Umuatulu/Oraofia Village settled for silver medals and the second prize of N250,000 with Umuakwu Village who defeated Akiyi Village 2-0 in the third and fourth place playoffs going home with the third prize of N150,000.

The Highest Goal Scorer gong worth N50,000 sponsored by Nze Chike Eze, a Nibo Chieftain, was won by Chidiebere Anagor of Umuakwu Village who scored a total of 5 goals in the competition while the Best Goalkeeper award sponsored by Nze Tony Okafor worth N50,000 went to Emmanuel Chinedu Obi of Ire Village.

In an interaction with sports journalists after the match, the sponsor's brother, Henry Deacon Okafor AKA Ochoko informed that his brother's love for the game of football and the quest to provide a platform for the youths of Enugwu-Ukwu community to showcase their God’s given talent through sporting activities using the instrumentality of football was the motivation behind the competition. 

Okafor posited that the competition has come to stay and will be an annual event in the football programme of the Enugwu-Ukwu Community even as the competition was geared towards promoting the cultural values. He thanked the sponsors for the noble initiative as well as the players, organizing committee and all stakeholders for the success story recorded in the course of the tournament which saw a total of 8 teams made up of 11 villages featuring in the competition.

Okafor said: "You will agree me with me that we saw a scintillating display of football artistry by the youths of our community in the finals of this noble football competition which shows that they have a bright future. Kudos to the sponsors, Ozonkpu Offia Ogwu Amobi Okafor and Ifeoma Nwegbene for sponsoring the competition which brought the villages together in a healthy competition.

"I can assure you that this football programme has come to stay and would be a regular sporting activity as we know that football is one of the unifying factors in our land. The next edition will surely be better, congratulations to the winners and may I also appreciate Nze Chike Eze and Nze Tony Okafor for their various supports by providing the financial incentives for the Highest Goal Scorer and Best Goalkeeper awards respectively," Okafor stated.

On his part, Nze Chike Eze, who doled out the sum of N50,000 for the winner of the Highest Goal Scorer award, disclosed that Enugwu-Ukwu is his maternal home and his love for sports especially football spurred him to be part of the competition when contacted by Henry Okafor. Nze Eze eulogized the sponsors for the noble initiative geared toward using sports to promote the cultural values and unity in the community while praying God to bless the sponsors in their daily activities.