Youth Soccer: Black Stars Fc, Emerge Champions Of Late Okenwa’s Maiden Under-13 Tournament

Posted by Ignatius Okpara Featured, Latest Headlines, Sports News Thursday, May 27th, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Black Stars FC of New Haven on Saturday defeated Young Stars Football club of Iva Valley, both from Enugu, to emerge champions of the maiden edition of the Late Chidi Ofo-Okenwa under-13 football competition played at the main bowl of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Sports Stadium.

African Examiner Sports reports that in the Champions smiled home with a giant trophy and cash money of 200K, while the runners-up, Young Stars, went home with N150,000 one hundred and fifty naira.

Third-placed team, Golden Stars, pocketed N100, 000 (one hundred thousand naira)

The youth Tournament organized by the Barrister Tony Ugwu, led Enugu state Football Association (ESFA), was put together in honour of its late former Chairman, and Executive Committee members, of Nigeria Football Federation NFF, Chidi Ofo Okenwa, who died in 2020.

In his remark at the end of the soccer fiesta, First Vice-President of NFF, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, expressed satisfaction with organizers of the youth game, saying it would assist the state FA in fishing out some hidden talents who may make football their career in the nearest future.

He however, rewarded the Most Valuable player MVP and the Champions with cash prizes.

Akinwunmi who led other top officials of the NFF to the ceremony, stated that they resolved to attend the final match as a mark of honour to their late colleague, Okenwa, whose Widow, Mrs Chika Okenwa of the news Agency of Nigeria, NAN and family members equally graced the event.

According to him “It is important that we are here to celebrate one of us, Chidi Ofo-Okenwa who was snatched away from us by the cold hands of death.

“We assure the Enugu State FA that we are solidly behind them and we are going to see what we can do to support these young boys.

“Our target is to uplift the youths and we have seen talents from this tournament and we are going to harness them

Chairman of Enugu State FA, Barrister Tony Ugwu, in a brief chat with Sports Writers, expressed satisfaction with fantastic soccer artistry displayed by the young boys, hinting that the competition has come to stay as its going to be an annual event.

Other dignitaries present at the sports event included, Executive Committee member of NFF, who is also Chairman of Zamfara State FA and Chairmen of Nigeria, (FAs), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, Enugu state Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Hon. Manfred Nzekwe, Rangers General Manager Prince Davison Owumi, Rangers Team Manager Barrister Amobi Ezeaku, Veteran Journalist, and member of Enugu FA board, Sir Abucji Anueyiagu, amongst others

A total of 14 teams participated in the youth soccer Tournament