Total E&P Restates Commitment To Sponsor Grassroot Football …Elele-Okinali Beats Ogbogu 2-1

Elele-Okinali has
emerged champions of the 14th edition of the NNPC/TEPNG OML 58 Football Competition as they defeated hard fighting Ogbogu community 2-1 yesterday.
The final encounter which was witnessed by huge crowd was played at the Western Ahoada County High School  field, in Ahoada-East Local Government Area, Rivers State.
In his keynote address on the closing ceremony, the deputy managing director of Total E&P Limited Port Harcourt district, Mr. Nicolas Brunet said the company has resolved to continue to sustain the competition despite the troubled industry and failing oil prices.
Mr Brunet, who was represented by Mr Charles Anfray said this year’s tournament came with little changes, significantly the relaxation of the age limitation for players, adding that the decision was practically to support genuine peace and reconciliation among the youths.
According to him, the company is committed to sponsor and support the football competition among their host communities to achieve sustainable development and growth of local talents.
“I am told, am glad, that the age limitation has paid off, positively as we have witnessed a remarkable improvement in the level of play and tactical discipline exhibited by all the teams”, he said.
Earlier, the chairman of the occasion who is also the chairman of Rivers State Football Association (RSFA) Barrister Christopher Green, who was represented by the secretary of RSFA Mr Ibigoni Akobo, appealed to the management of Total E & P Nigeria Limited to expand the tournament to state level to enable players expose to national and international level.
“I know that the company might spent so much in this programme, but the result cannot be quantified to the amount spent, because players are not exposed, normally coaches and scouts are supposed to be here to pick players for the competition to achieve one of the aims”, Akobo said.
At the end of the competition the best behaved team went to Elele-Alimini, best goal keeper, Onyekachi Emmanuel (Elele-Okinali) while highest scorer was graped by Chibuike Frank of Akabuka and the most valuable player (MVP) went to Chief Ajie of Ogbogu.

Tonye Orabere

Sponsor of Go Round/SWAN Athletics Championship, Bro Felix Obuah (middle), presenting the Overall Best Athlete Trophy to PHALGA CTC Chairman, Hon Samuel Ejekwu (right), while MOC Chairman, Honour Sirawoo (left) looks on.