By Ikenna Nwokedi
Organizers of the 2024 Ifitedunu Unity Cup on Friday, 20th December 2024 at Ifitedunu Civic Centre held the draw ceremony for the football tournament and as well unveiled the jerseys and trophy for the competition.
The upcoming Ifitedunu Unity Cup which is in memory of Prince Sir Engr. Godwin and Princess Lady Cecelia Obinabo is being sponsored by their children with five villages of Ifitedunu Community comprising of Obieze, Ukpomili, Akwa, Umuanugwo and Igbuala villages expected to feature in the soccer mundial which will hold from Sunday, 22nd December 2024 to Thursday, 2nd January 2025.
The sponsor of Ifitedunu Unity cup are also sponsoring Ifitedunu female and male football teams at the ongoing 2024 Dunukofia Unity Cup which kickstarted on Sunday 15th December, 2024 and will wind off on Saturday, 28th December 2024.
The winner of the Ifitedunu Unity Cup will take home the sum of One Million Naira while the second, third and fourth placed teams will smile home with the sum of 700 Thousand Naira, 500 Thousand Naira and 300 Thousand Naira respectively while the fifth placed team will get the sum of 200 Thousand Naira. There are other individual awards such as the Highest Goal Scorer and Most Valuable Player.
In the draws ceremony, Obieze Village will square up against Akwa Village in Group A while Igbuala, Ukpomili and Umuanwgwu will slug it out in Group B.
Speaking during the official unveiling ceremony, the President-General of Ifitedunu Community, Comrade Stephen 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. Ufoaroh averred that the football championship will unify the villages in Ifitedunu and provide a platform for the youths of the community to be engaged meaningfully during the festive period.
Ufoaroh said: “Kudos to the children of Prince Sir Engr. Godwin and Princess Lady Cecelia Obinabo for accepting to bankroll this football competition which will provide a platform for the teeming youths of our dear town to showcase their sporting abilities and at the same time keep the youths off social vices especially during this festive period.
“In ensuring that that we have a seamless competition we engaged one of the sons of the land, Mr. Joseph Nwafor, an ex-Flying Eagles and Rangers star in the capacity of a Technical Adviser to oversee and ensure that the competition is a success. I urge all playing personnel and the various village to ensure that there is spirit of sportsmanship, discipline and dedication during the course of game,” Ufoaroh said.
The erstwhile Chairman of ASUU UNIZIK Chapter informed that the target in the aftermath of the competition is to raise a strong team that will represent Ifitedunu in the state’s Inter Community competitions and as well flout a professional football club in the mould of Ifitedunu FC.
On his part, the Technical Adviser of Ifitedunu Sports Committee, Mr. Joseph Nwafor urged the participants to be disciplined and ensure they abide by the tenets of the game for a hitch free and successful competition.
Highpoints of the unveiling ceremony was the official showcasing of the trophy as well as distribution of team jerseys and match balls by the community President-General to representatives of the five villages.
