Winners of Chief Ateke Tom sponsored Wakirike Peace and Unity Soccer Competition last Friday went home with smiles as Ateke Tom redeemed his pledge by doling out cash prize to them accordingly.
Komo United smiled home with N1.5 million naira as the winner of the competition, first runners up, Bori United carted home the sum of N1 million naira, while the second runners up Ogoni United went home with N500, 000.
The competition started last December, 2012 and was concluded on 16th of January, 2013 due to unforeseen circumstances that delayed the competition to January this year.
Speaking to sports journalists briefly before the award ceremony, Chief Ateke Tom, the sponsor of the competition said, the competition went on well to its logical conclusion, but expressed sorry that he was not around at the moment to give out the prizes to the winners hence, he did it recently to make the winners happy.
He apologized to the players for the delay in giving out their prizes they had won earlier this year.
The award ceremony was spiced with an entertainment match, at Chief Ateke Tom five-A-side soccer pitch at his estate at Okochiri. Selected sides made up the entertainment friendly match between Lemon Team and Blue Team. Lemon selected side won the match by 5-3 goals.
Giving reasons why he sponsored the competition, Chief Ateke Tom stated that the competition is for peace and unity across the Niger Delta, as to prepare the youths mentally and physically, while enhancing their football talents to be of good behaviour, in sustaining grassroot football development in the Niger Delta.
In his remarks, Owunari from Komo United expressed gratitude to God and Chief Ateke Tom to have seen this day, praying God to sustain chief Ateke Tom to continue in the good work he has started.
Meanwhile, no prize was given to the most valuable player and the highest goal scorer, but he sponsored the highest goal scorer to the United States of America to continue in his football career.
Aribiton George of Komo United emerged the highest goal scorer with a total of 11 goals. Israel Banigo was adjudged the most valuable player of the competition.
32 teams participated in the competition and 72 matches were played on the whole.
The competition has also discovered some players for Sharks Football Club of Port Harcourt as Christian Pyagbara one of the players discovered from that competition now leads up Sharks attack. ####
