In commemoration of the first anniversary of the coronation of Ovie (King) of Agbarha-Warri kingdom, HRM Kingsley Emarkpo Orereh IGBI II, in Warri South local government area of Delta State, a football tournament in honour of the King was put together by the kingdom with a local organising committee led by ex-international Edema Fuludu.
Eight teams participated in the tournament that commenced on November 24 and ended on December 7, 2024.
The exciting came with lots of untold glamour and accolades never before experienced in the Warri metropolis.
The eight teams that participated in the tournament were drawn from the seven communities that make up the Agbarha-Warri kingdom. And they included Otovwodo (Agbassa), Igbudu, Ogunu, Oteghele, Okurode, Ukpokiti,
Edjeba and RAWK (The rest of Agbarha-Warri kingdom) the non-indigenes.
At the end of the final hostilities between Ukpokiti community and Ogunu community, Ukpokiti emerged the winners with the grand prize of N3 million and also picking the awards of Most Valuable Player and Best Goalkeeper of the tournament with N100,000 each attached.
The first runner up Ogunu community, got N2 million for their efforts
Earlier, Edjeba community had slugged it out with Igbudu community for the third place prize of M1 million, which was won by Edjeba with a 2-1 victory.
The Best behaved team trophy went to the RAWK team with N100,000 while the highest goal scorer was picked by Tega Oyeye of Oteghele community.
HRM Kingsley Emàkpor Orereh IGBI II the Ovie of Agbarha Warri kingdom, in his brief address promised to continue with this tournament as a platform to harness young talents and promote peaceful coexistence within the kingdom and neighbouring communities.
He said this is not a one-off tournament because he will promote more grassroots football initiatives that will discover talents for greater heights.
He said even in the spirit of competitiveness, nobody should be a loser hence, he announced the sum of N500,000 to the remaining five teams that did not win the grand prizes.
The Chairman of the LOC Comrade Edema Fuludu said he was not surprised at the generousity of HRM, who is a sports lover and big fan of football who played lots of youth football in Warri.
The President-General of the kingdom, Chief Emmanuel Oghenerhoro Ememu, applauded the organisational capacity of the tournament and the gains of the kingdom with the ascendancy of HRM Kingsley Emàkpor Orereh IGBI II, as a royal father with difference.
The event also attracted a lot of dignitaries such as the MD of Nigeria Gas Company, Engr. Seyi Omotowa; the Provost of College of Education, Edjeba in Agbarha Warri kingdom Chief Dickson Oyovwi; Chiefs of the kingdom, community leaders and ex football stars like Mobosa Brodericks, Ezekiel Akpofure and Chief Kenneth Nwaomucha former Delta State Football Association chairman, amongst other distinguished dignitaries.
