By Ikenna Nwokedi 

Umuanugwo Village has emerged as the champions of the 2024/25 edition of the Ifitedunu Unity Cup competition.

Umuanugwo saw off Obieze by three goals to nil with all goals scored in the second half of the match through Ifeanyi Anikpe, Ifesinachi Amaechina and Martins Okafor in the 53rd, 66th and 82nd minutes respectively in an entertaining grand finale played at the St. Mary's High School field Ifitedunu on Thursday, 2nd January 2025.

The Ifitedunu Unity Cup which is in memory of Prince Sir Engr. Godwin and Princess Lady Cecelia Obinabo is sponsored by their children with five villages of Ifitedunu Community comprising of Obieze, Ukpomili, Akwa, Umuanugwo and Igbuala villages featuring in the soccer mundial which kicked off on Sunday, 22nd December 2024.

For emerging as champions, Umuanugwo took the star prize of one million naira while Obieze settled for the sum of 700 thousand naira. Ukpommili who defeated Akwa 2-1 in the third and fourth placed playoffs went home with the sum of 500 thousand naira as Akwa got 300 thousand naira.

In the individual awards, Chidera Nwoye of Obieze Village scooped the award as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the competition, Machie Onyeka of Obieze Village was awarded the Best Goalkeeper while Ejike Chinemelu of Umuanugwo Village was the Highest Goal Scorer.

In his remarks during the closing ceremony, the President-General of Ifitedunu Community, Comrade Stephen Ufoaroh eulogized the sponsors for providing a platform for the teeming youths of the community to discover and showcase their sporting prowess through the instrumentality of football.  

The former Chairman of ASUU UNIZIK Chapter while commending the organizing committee stated that the championship has unearthed new breed of talents who will be monitored closely to ensure they attain the peak of their footballing career.

Highpoints of the closing ceremony was the decoration of the winning teams with medals and their prize monies.