Oruarivie-Abraka Kingdom Football Competition: Ogbeje Team Wins 2019 Edition

 By Christian Egheneji

It was all funfair recently as Ogbeje football team won the 2019 edition of Uku Odjevworo Cup at the Abraka Grammar School playing ground.

The soccer tournament which was attended by dignitaries such as the President General of Oruarivie Abraka Kingdom, Hon. Emmanuel Idoghor, Chief (Amb.) Harrison Jessa, CEO, Harrison Jessa Global Oil, Mr. Okoko Kelvin popularly known as Sir K., Hon. Emmanuel Oyikpi, Councilor Ward 1, Hon. Julian Okotie, Councilor Ward 2, Mr. Peter Ekakite (Director of Sports, Delta State University, Abraka (Oleh Campus), Hon. Godstime Oborayiruvwe, Public Relations Officer (PRO), Oruarivie Youths, among others, witnessed the Ogbeje football team trounce Urhuoka football team 3-0.

Two goals were scored in the first half as the first goal of the match came through a beautiful shot by Liam, a sleeky midfielder in the organized Ogbeje team and the second goal was a powerful free-kick from Power, another midfielder.

All attempts by the hard fighting Urhuoka team to score in the second half was futile as the Ogbeje team defended tirelessly throughout the second half, and instead countered the Urhuoka team to score the third goal through a well placed shot by the inspirational Festus of the Ogbeje team.

It was indeed a tense moment as the winners, who had never won the competition and were praised for defeating Urhuoka team who were multiple winners, were presented the trophy by Chief Jessa Harrison and rewarded with several other gifts.

In an interview with Oasis Magazine (OM), Okoko Kelvin (Sir K.), a Chief Executive Officer of chains of Merrybet shops in Delta State and one of the major sponsors of the tournament, expressed satisfaction with the tournament.

He said: “I am excited with the level of work put into this tournament by the organizers. In fact, there is a good improvement compared to that of last year.”

Sir K added that he expects the tournament to attain greater heights in the coming edition as he had perfected plans with the organizers on the way forward and believe that other stakeholders will come up with their contributions.

Hon. Emmanuel was an obvious unofficial official throughout the football match as he could hardly sit on his seat as the Ogbeje team was thrashing his Urhuoka team.

He told OM that the tournament was a success, while expressing that the Urhuoka players gave a good account of themselves despite the margin of defeat, especially at the latter part of the match.

He continued: “I must thank the organizers for organizing a good tournament. I believe Urhuoka cannot be winning all the time. Even with this score, the boys gave a good account of themselves in the second half.”

The elated chief organizer of the tournament, Ejiro Odesineka a.k.a Bishop, was full of appreciation for the success of the tournament.

He said: “We are very grateful to the Ovie of Oruarivie Kingdom, the Ojeta 11 of Oruarivie-Abraka Kingdom whose support is priceless. We are also grateful to Chief Jessa Harrison and Mr. Okoko Kelvin a.k.a Sir K. for the invaluable support to not only this competition but the Abraka Kingdom in general.

“We appreciate the seven quarters that participated in the competition and hope to improve on this competition that is meant to unite Abraka better.”

According to him, plans were underway to empower the seven quarters that participated in the competition.

Football brings us together; this is no more time for politics. We are brothers. I think this competition has helped to build friendship and brotherliness after the just concluded elections,” he stressed.