Monarch Canvasses Discipline For Ogba Football Competition

Following the inclusion of football competition as part of
activities for the annual Ogba Festival (Egwu Ogba), the traditional ruler of
Obagi community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area, His Royal Highness,
Eze Benson has called on the participating teams to make discipline their
watchword.

The Egwu Ogba festival is scheduled to be flagged off
tomorrow, while the football competition commences next week.

Eze Benson, who made the appeal said it was imperative to
ensure that the aim of including football competition in the festival was
achieved.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Tidesports
yesterday in Port Harcourt, he noted that the aim of the football competition
was to discover talents at the grassroots that could represent the area, state
and the country in football competitions.

According to him, the sum of N100,000 is set aside for the
overall winner of the competition, while participating clubs are expected to
register with N5,000.

He explained that the football competition is always used to
round-off the annual Egwu Ogba Festival in the 17 communities in Egi clan.

The Paramount Ruler, however advised clubs and players
participating in the competition to eschew bitterness and uphold the spirit of
sportsmanship.

He urged them to take their training serious, before the
competition in order to do well.

He used the opportunity to assure Rivers people and other
Nigerians wishing to visit the area, of their safety during and after the
festival.

Isaac Nwankwo