By Ikenna Nwokedi
Mgbuwa Village on Thursday, 2nd January 2025, emerged as the champions of the Amalukwue Football Tournament in Akwaeze Community domiciled in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.
In a keenly contested and entertaining grand finale played at the Akwaeze football ground, Umuideke forced the game into penalties after Ifeanyi Okpala restored parity in injury time to take the match to sudden death as Sochima Mmaduka had earlier given Mgbuwa the lead in the 62nd minute of the frenetic final contest.
Mgbuwa went on to emerge champions beating Umuideke 11-10 on penalties to claim the top prize of 500,000 naira while Umuideke settled for the second prize of 300,000 naira as Uruolu village who defeated Umutu 2-1 in the third and fourth placed playoffs went home with the sum of 200,000 naira.
The Akwaeze Unity Cup competition was bankrolled by Nze Mmaduaburochukwu Benjamin Onyeka Amalukwue AKA ‘Gentle Professor’ with six villages of Akwaeze Community comprising of Uruonyili, Umutu, Mgbuwa, Umuezeani, Umuideke and Uruolu Villages featuring in the soccer mundial held from Wednesday, 25th December 2024 to Thursday, 2nd January 2025.
According to the sponsor, Nze Amalukwue, stated that the competition was an avenue for the teeming youths of Akwaeze community to discover and showcase their sporting prowess through the instrumentality of football. Nze Amalukwue averred that the football championship unified the villages in Akwaeze and provided a platform for the youths of the community to be engaged meaningfully during the festive period.
High Points of the closing ceremony was a ceremonial kickoff performed by the sponsor, Nze Amalukwue in company of the president-general of the commmunity, Chief Osita Udemba, as well as decoration of the successful teams with medals and cash prizes.
