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Obibi Community Emerges Champions of Etche Unity Football Tournament … As Senator Donates N2.7m

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Nwodim Memorial Football in Obibi Community has emerged winners of the maiden edition of Okehi Clan Unity Tournament in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The final encounter was played at Amaekwune playground in Okehi which witnessed huge attendance and saw Obibi community narrowly beat hard fighting Okehi One with a lone goal.
Spectators were excited following the football artistry being displayed by the two teams as the game kicked off by 4pm, and Obibi saw the back of the net at the 43rd minute of play.
Speaking shortly after the final game, Senator Allwell Onyesoh, representing Rivers East Senatorial district in the National Assembly who was the special guest of Honour and Chairman is the Assembly opined that the tournament has achieved its purpose, saying that both teams played purposeful football.
According to him the tournament has discovered hidden talents that have potentials to become future football champions, adding that the competition has enormous advantages to be harnessed.
“For me, no winner, no vanquished, both teams who played today, played very well and I must commend the donor for this gesture in this grassroots sports development.
To this end, I am supporting the tournament for next year with the sum of N1million, while each of the finalist will go home with N.5N1million each, as best player, best goal keeper, will also get N100,000 each, while officials, organisers and the singing group will also smile home with N250,000, N200,000 and N100,000 respectively.
“Let me continue to encourage you all to maintain peace and unity, however, for the best player and best goal keeper I will register both of you to play in a club in Port Harcourt” Senator Onyesoh said.
He further used the opportunity to commend the sponsor of the tournament, Engr Fortune Uchenna Obi, for what he has done in all ramifications.
Earlier in an interview with journalists, the sponsor of the tournament, Engr. Obi said he decided to sponsor the tournament to promote unity and peace in the area through grassroots sports development and expressed happiness that the tournament was successful.

Akujobi Amadi

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Naphtali Director Reiterates Commitment To Dev Chess

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The Chief executive officer (CEO) of Naphtali Groups Dr Apollos Akomaka has reiterated his commitment to develop the game of Chess in Rivers State and beyond.
He stated his intention was to ensure that Chess is as popular as football and played by everybody in the State.
Dr. Akomaka said these shortly after he won the Naphtali  Battle Of Two Generations Chess Competition, in Port Harcourt, sponsored by Naphtali physiotherapy and wellness  Clinic, recently. at Twilight Lounge Total Gospel street, Odili road, Port Harcourt.
In the competition “The Battle of Two Generations came to a dramatic display with the Old Generation (Veterans) staging a comeback after Day 1 to thump the New Generation with a 7.5 vs 4.5 points on  the final Day.
At the commencement of the day one tournament  Martins Konju play the white pieces against tactical Dr Apollos Akomaka( veteran)  who played the black pieces, Akomaka stretched the young Martins Konju’s resilience to hold on the game  to a draw via continuous checks that eventually made Konju fell into a mating net and got mated.
Meanwhile, board two  saw an Under 14 player John Nwachukwu with the white pieces,who delivered a strategic attacking onslaught on his opponents Stanley Egbujie, the highest Fide rated player of the event with 1940 rating. Stanley Egbujie could not hold on with Nwachukwu’s attack as he had to resign to avoid an embarrassing mate that was in the offing.
It a different ball game on board three where the highest rated new generation player Pamella Ezeh Souter with a 1904 rating against an unrated veteran Ipalibo George wasted no time in employing his tactical prowess to subdue the veteran who succumbed    to pressure and resigned,giving the new generation the needed win after round one.
In the subsequent round  Martin Konju secured a 3 fold repetition and earn a vital draw against Dr. Akomaka while Stanley Egbujie had it easy over John Nwachukwu as Pamela Ezeh took advantage of the rustiness of Ipalibo George to deliver another resounding victory to give the new generation an early advantage of 3.5: 2:5 after Day 1.

Tonye Orabere

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Team Rivers Shine At South-East Chess Championship

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The second edition of South East Zonal Chess Championship draw its curtain close at the weekend in Umuahia the capital city of Abia State.
The tournament saw Rivers Chess team which was represented by three players  Stanley Egbujie, Eunice Ajawachukwu  and veteran, Dr. Appollos Akomaka who captained the team  excelled at championship.
Rivers players won all their games in the day one of the tournament, in the female category Ajawachukwu emerged champion and narrowly lost to highly rated player to win silver medal with a 4/7 points in the major championship
Stanley Egbujie of Rivers performed impressively which took him to the finals but also lost to the joint winner of the major  championship as Egbujie  dropped to fourth position by ranking with  5/7 points.
This year edition did not feature the veteran category; however the reigning veteran champion of the championship, Dr. Akomaka also garnered 3.5points out of 7 to still remain undisputed as the veteran champion of the zone.
Speaking shortly after the event, the acting chairman of the Rivers State Chess Association Dr Apollos Akomaka urged players to always put in their best, saying and that one day their efforts will be crowned with glory.
He stated that if they continue to perform impressively in competitions he believes government would support them.

Tonye Orabere

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NDDC To Introduce Secondary Schools Football League

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The Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Dr. Samuel Ogbuku has pledged to introduce Niger Delta Secondary Schools League (NDSSL) to promote and develop football in the region.
He stated that in the next edition of W.W White cup the best player would be sent to any football academy in Europe, instead of scouts to come.
Dr. Ogbuku said these shortly after the finals of the competition sponsored by NDDC, last Friday at the Stella Maris College, between Ennitonia High School and Nyemoni Anglican Grammar School in Port Harcourt,
According to him, the reason of sponsoring the tournament was to bring back Port Harcourt how it used to be, adding that the name was also maintained to immortalise the person who started the competition as a way of giving back to the society.
“We believe that we needed to go back how Port Harcourt used to be, the peaceful Port Harcourt as it used to be that glorified all of us. Besides, for a long time now we have not played inter secondary football competition in the State.
“Next year we will improve on it  by sending the best player to any of the football academics in Europe. This competition would go round the nine States that NDDC covers but it will not bare W.W.White. We are going to look for other existing competition there and winners of each State will play Niger Delta Secondary School League”, he said.
The NDDC Managing Director , further revealed that the the commission would introduce football competition for female in the area hence it will not bare W.W. White. We all know that female football in Nigeria’ started from Rivers State.
“ The truth was that we are gender friendly, we will introduce another competition and not W.W. White Cup, if we do that then it will not bare W.W.White cup again”, he stated.
At the end of the game Enitonia High School beat 4-2 Nyemoni Anglican Grammar School  on penalty after playing 1-1 at regulation time  to emerge champions.
Consequently, Ennitonia High School go home with N1.5m while Nyemoni smile home with N1M.

Tonye Orabere

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