Mgbala Agwa Town in Oguta LGA, Imo State, has concluded its 2013/2014 inter village football competition which commenced on the 26th of December, 2013 and ended on the 4th January, 2014 with Team Umuesoigbeala emerging the overall winners of the competition, after beaten Team Kpokirikpo on a penalty shoot-out.
The competition which took place at Alaoma Primary School, Mgbala Agwa, had 11 hoisted flags that belonged to Team Umuesoigbeala, Umuoboro, Umuojere, Umuokijoro, Okwudo and Okwuogha. Others include: Umuelekwe Team, Umuonyima, Umuamadiodu, Kpokirikpo and Umuesoegbelu.
Addressing journalists at the end of the competition that ended one goal each after the 2nd half of the game between Team Kpokirikpo and Umuesoigbeala, the trophy donor, Mr. Ignatius Agbahime (World Bank), who hails from Kpokirikpo, expressed gratitude that his side; Kpokirikpo lost 4-5 to Umuesoigbeala in a penalty shoot-out at the end of full time. The international business man added that he has no regret as the trophy went to his inlaws, pointing out that his purpose of presenting the trophy for the competition was to foster peace in Mgbala Town.
He explained that the purpose of the competition was not to show that he is the richest or the poorest in the community, but to ensure that peace and unity continue to exist among the youths, despite some political differences in the area. Agbahime opined that the uniqueness of trophy presentation to the winners of the competition was that the overall winners of the competition will have a water borehole provided for them in their village, while 2nd and 3rd positions will have their cash prizes respectively, which according to him has never happened in the history of football competition in Agwa Clan.
World Bank, as popularly called, promised to organize the competition during Easter 2014 and assured the people of Agwa that better things will come their way with his involvement in politics.
In his response, Prince K. Igbo, Prince of the Oil Kingdom, disclosed that he would have organized the competition before his friend but later backed down for political reason. He commended his friend success and peaceful nature of the event.
While Mr. Kennedy Onwudiwe of Kennedy Computers, a business associate of Mr. Agbahime, promised to do whatever that he will be asked to do in terms of supporting any youth competition in Mgbala Town, haven witnessed the successful out come of the just concluded competition.
However, Mr. Chukwuneke Agbarakwe of Heartland FM Station, Owerri, Imo State, promised to use his position as Mgbala indigene to project the image Agwa youths, particularly those from Mgbala, that have proved themselves in the area of sports, adding that those players, whose names have been penciled down in the course of the competition, for onward screening in the state league.
The Match Commissioner, Mr. Canice Arugbulem was among the dignitaries that spoke with our correspondent at the end of the game and lauded the trophy donor and the organizers for a job well done. ###
By Blaise Elumezie
