Kokoriko Streets Soccer Kicks Off, August

A street-to-street soccer tournament tagged”, Kokoriko Street Soccer Cup” would kick off in August this year, courtesy of football administrator, Chief Godspower Okokoriko.
Also underway are Under-20 and 21 Cup tournaments that would cut across seven centres in Rivers State and one in Bayelsa State.
Making plans for the tournaments public in an interview with Tidesports, organiser and initiator of the events, Chief Okokoriko said logistics towards holding the competition are in advanced stage.
He disclosed that the body has introduced new trophies in the name of Obi Wali for Obio/Akpor, Ken Saro-Wiwa in Gokana area, King Jaja in Opobo/Nkoro axis and Adam Fiberesima in Okrika.
Others he listed include Claude Ake Cup in Ogba/Egbema, Agbanni Daerego in Akuku-Toru and Adaka Boro Cup in Bayelsa State.
Emphasising why the tournaments were instituted, Okokoriko said”, we believe that sports bring people together. In short, sports is evangelism for peace.”
The president of the United Youths Sports Federation of Nigeria (UYSFON) also described sports as a weapon to tackle youth restiveness and other social vices.
Lamenting the gradual ebb of grassroots sports, Chief Okokoriko said such tournaments can be a platform of discovering new and budding talents.
He reiterated the need for the government to exploit sports as a means of empowering the youths, noting that Kanus, Taribos and Finidis of today were discovered in similar tournaments.
Chief Okokoriko also stressed the need for the authorities to institute peace cup tournaments among warring youths and communities in the stamp, as a way of stamping out acrimony within the society.
He lamented that so many sports tournaments have failed in the country because of lack of sponsors and therefore tasked corporate bodies not to shy away from their social responsibilities.