Francis Tayor
The competitive 2025 Amaseimokumo football tournament has come to an end on Thursday 24th April, as Gbaramatu Urban team trashed Ogbe-ljoh United FC 1-0 to clinched the trophy.
As part of activities to mark the 2025 Amaseikumor Festival in Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom of Delta State, the Gbaramatu Youth Council organised a football tourney amongst youths from various Ijaw kingdoms and neighbouring Urhobo and Isoko kingdoms.
The idea is to promote love, unity and peaceful coexistence among the different ethnic groups in Delta State, as well as to develop raw talents at the grassroot level.
The first prize of Two million naira (N2,000 000, 00) goes to Gbaramatu Urban Team while the second prize of 1.2million naira went to Ogbe-ljoh United. And the third prize of Seven hundred thousand naira (N700, 000 00) goes to Oporoza Ward team which emerged third position after beating Ovwie united 1-0.
Giving brief details of the final match between Gbaramatu Urban Team and Ogbe-ljoh United, the centre referee awarded a penalty shootout in favour of the Gbaramatu Urban Team in the 66 minutes of the game which led to controversy, and Ogbe-Ijoh United walked out of the pitch.
However, after over 35 minutes of the controversy about the penalty awarded, normalcy was restored and the centre referee insisted the penalty shootout stands, which the Gbaramatu Urban Team utilised and scored the penalty shootout.
Ogbe-Ijoh United fought fearlessly to equalise the 1 goal but to no avail, thereby relegating them to the second position.
However, Presley Friday of Gbaramatu Urban Team won the golden boot while Pere Joseph of Ogbe-Ijoh United emerged highest goal scorer of the tournament. Gideon Blankson from Ogbe-Ijoh United also clinched the best goalkeeper of the tourney.
Reacting to the development, the National President of Gbaramatu Kingdom Youth Council, Comrade Kingsley Egbejule Arerebo appreciated God for the successful tournament in an atmosphere of peace, unity and love.
He noted that the turnout of the 2025 Amaseimokumo football tournament was massive compared to the last year 2024, stressing that over 13 kingdoms participated in the tournament compared to previous year of 8.
He thanked all the kingdoms participated for the tournament, while acknowledging the contributions of the Organizing Committee of the 2025 Amaseimokumo Annual Festival ably led by High Chief. Engr. Kestin Pondi, for creating the enabling environment to smooth success of the event.
Climax of the football event was the award of honor bestowed on the General Manager (GM) Gbaramatu Voice Newspaper International, Mr. Asiayei David Enaibo, as the Best Cultural Journalist of the year by the Gbaramatu Kingdom Youth Council.
However, the final day of the great Amaseimokumo Annual festival of lbolomo-ere, Gbaraun Egbesu and Amaseimokumo is scheduled on Friday 25th April, 2025 with high expectation of dignitaries from all walks of life, near and far to be in Oporoza, headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom in order to celebrate the beauty of ljaw culture and tradition.
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