#2.2M CASH UP FOR GRABS AT IJAW/ITSEKIRI PEACE & UNITY TOURNEY

Competition Set To Produce Youthful, Talented Players For National Leagues 

The Ijaw/Itsekiri Peace and Unity Cup Football Tourney 2019, otherwise known as Comrade Sheriff Mulade Peace and Unity Cup has commenced with the registration of 16 Teams for competition which will kick off in November, 2019.

The 2019 edition, unlike the first edition in 2017, has seen the introduction of a new dimension as two centers now plays host to the competition.

The two centres, accordingly are Ugborodo and Benikrukru communities; both in Warri South-west local government area.

The two centres will witness sixteen (16) teams, eight in each center, to slug it out for the eventual winner as forms are already on sale in various locations as well as the office of Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, (CEPEJ), Ugolo which serves as the temporary secretariat of the Local Organising Committee, LOC.

Comrade Sheriff Mulade, organiser of the Mulade Peace and Unity Tournament has disclosed that the winner of the tournament in this 2019 Edition will go home with a whopping cash prize of One million naira (#1m) and Gold Cup. 

Mulade further disclosed that the 2nd Placed Team will receive the sum of Seven hundred thousand naira (#700,000) and 3rd placed team Five hundred thousand naira (#500,000) respectively.

Also, other prizes includes Awards for Most Valuable Player, Highest Goal Scorer, Fair Play Award for Best Behaved Team and Best Goal Keeper, amongst others.

Chairman of the LOC, Hon. Kenneth Nwaomucha at a meeting held, emphasized that this year's Edition will be focused on discovering talented youths who are between 15 and 20 years of age.

This, according to Nwaomucha, is an ideal age limit for grassroots competition. 

He advised the coordinators of the two centers to inform the various teams before registration, adding that the Technical Committee, with other technical experts will be on ground to do exponent screening of each team before commencement. 

The LOC Chairman explained further that the above exercise will help to produce the real age grade players who can be taken to the National Football League and Premier League Clubs and they will do well because they have age on their side. 

One of the major features of the competition is the showcasing of ex-internationals by the Organizers who are expected to participate in footballs matches against a selected side during the opening and closing ceremonies of the competition to serve as a moral booster to the various youths participating in the tourney. 

The 2017 edition had ex-Internationals like Kenneth Nwaomucha, Edema Fuludu ( M.O.N), Baldwin Bazuaye (M.O.N), Former Super Eagles Coach Austin Eguavoen ( M.O.N ) who attended the finals.

Other prominent personalities at the last edition included though the Deputy Governor of Delta state, Barrister Kingsley Otuaro, Hon Daniel Reyeinaju, (former member representing Warri federal constituency), former Chairman Warri South-west LGA, Hon. George Ekpemukpolo, Hon. David Tonwe, former Chairman of renowned Ufuoma babes f c. Elder Eddington Kuejubola, Former Delta South senatorial district PDP Chairman and now Delta state Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Hon. Prince Emman Amgbaduba.

This year's edition promises to be profit yielding as scouts and football agents from across Nigeria and Europe have akready signified their interest to be on ground to spot talented players which will go a long way to raise the marketability of the yearly tournament.

One of such organization, the African Grassroots Football Development with links in Cyprus, Italy and Spain have confirmed their interest to partner with the Organizers moreso with Comrade Sheriff Mulade who was recently appointed as the 2nd National Vice President of the grassroots football body in Nigeria.

The tournament according to the organizers, was initiated with the aim of encouraging and sustaining the existing peace and unity that has been attained by the Ijaws and Itsekiris over the past years.