By Ikenna Nwokedi
De Godz FC of Onitsha on Sunday, 30th October 2022 emerged champions of the second edition of the Remmy Uche Soccer Challenge Cup. The football fiesta which commenced on the 21st of August 2022 saw a total of 32 teams across the state taking part in the competition.
The final match played at the Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium Onitsha saw last year’s 3rd runners up winning 6-5 on penalties against Obosi side Ozalla FC after the game ended scoreless at the end of regulation time to clinch the coveted prize of N3million and the trophy while Ozalla FC settled for the second prize of N1.5million.
In the third and fourth place playoffs earlier in the day, DJ Alonso FC defeated Jimbaz FC 3-1 to take home the sum of N500,000 as the Ihiala based side who were the defending champions in the maiden edition settled for a consolation prize of N150,000.
Goals for DJ Alonso FC came through Ifeanyi Onuorah and Echezona Nwobodo in the 34th and 53rd minutes respectively while Onyeka Odoh scored from the spot in the 79th minute, Ikenna Igwe had earlier gotten the only goal for Jimbaz FC in the 68th minute of the action packed encounter.
The soccer challenge cup bankrolled by Umudioka born businessman and real estate developer, Chief Remigus Uchenna Anyadike saw other individual awards such as Most Valuable Player (MVP) awarded to Chukwudi Okoro of De Godz FC who got a 3.5KVA Power Generating Set.
The Best Behaved Team accolade went to Anambra Rovers FC with a N50,000 prize money for their conduct, Best Goalkeeper of the competition went to Chikeme Asada of Ozalla FC plus a Mini-Refrigerator.
Striker, Moses of DJ Alonso got N20,000 for emerging as the Most Skilful player while the Highest Goal Scorer Gong went to Chiadi Chiadi of De Godz FC who also got a LED flat screen television.
In his interaction with sportswriters, the sponsor Chief Remigus Uchenna Anyadike stated that his passion for the game and the will to provide a platform for the youths in the state to showcase their God’s given talent is the motivation behind the competition.
Chief Anyadike posited that the competition has come to stay and will be an annual event in the football program of the state.
Also speaking, Proprietor of the De Godz FC and Bet9ja Super Agent in the state, Mr. Kingsley Ndukauba eulogized the benefactor of the Remmy Uche Soccer Challenge, Chief Anyadike for doling out his hard earned money in putting up the competition bringing together 32 teams in the state.
“I must commend Chief Remigus Anyadike for the initiative via this competition which today we witnessed the closing ceremony of the second edition as my team who came fourth in the maiden edition today are champions,” Ndukauba said.
“Recall that during the group stages we lost to DJ Alonso FC but we held our nerves, went back to the drawing board looked at some of the things we didn’t do well and worked on it”,
“I also had a pep talk with my boys to instill the needed confidence. We are really delighted that we won today, kudos also to Ozalla FC for giving it a good fight but at the end one team will certainly win,” Ndukauba stated.
Also speaking, the Chair of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), Mr. Austin Kelechukwu disclosed that the competition is nothing short of entertainment.
He commended the Benefactor for giving him the platform to serve as the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, pointing out that the feedback gotten by the participants show that it’s about the best competition that they have participated in so far.
