By Ikenna Nwokedi
Amawbia Town have emerged champions of the 2023-24 edition of the Obizi Unity Cup competition to retain the trophy they won in the previous 2022-23 edition.
The annual football competition which is bankrolled by the Deputy Speaker and member representing Awka South Constituency 2 at the Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chukwuma Okoye had this year’s opening match and grand finale played at St. Marks Anglican Church field Umuawulu in honour of the illustrious son of Umuawulu, Late Chief Chukwudi Okafor (Amuluonyenego Na Umuawulu).
Amawbia Town saw off Nise 5-3 on penalty shootouts after a scoreless affair at the end of regulation time to smile home with the cash prize of N600,000 while Nise settled for the second prize of N400,000.
Earlier on in the third and fourth place playoffs, Nibo community walked over Isiagu to claim the third prize of N300,000 while Isiagu settled for the fourth prize of N250,000 with Umuawulu, Ezinator and Mbaukwu communities going home with the sum of N100,000 each for featuring in this year’s edition.
In the individual award categories, the best Goalkeeper of the competition went to Miracle Ejima of Amawbia, Most Valuable Player (MVP) gong went to Mmaduabuchi Okoyeuche from Nise, Emmanuel Ezeamama of Nibo who raked in three goals was declared the Highest Goalscorer of the competition while Amawbia town where adjudge the Best Behaved Team.
According to the competition sponsor, Rt. Hon. Okoye, the annual Obizi Unity Cup is one of his projects geared towards empowering the youths of his town and by extension Obizi dynasty through the instrumentality of football as well as encouraging peaceful coexistence among the people of the seven communities.
Rt. Hon. Okoye is also the sponsor of the annual Ugboogiliga Walk for Life programme as well as the Ugboogiliga Challenge Cup featuring the seven villages of Amawbia Town.
