Ebele Lions Football Club of Lagos at the weekend emerged as the champion of the first edition of the Victor Ikpeba Football Challenge which held at Obele Odan Community Centre, Surulere, Lagos.
In the grand finale watched by the 1997 African Footballer of the Year and 1996 Olympic gold medallist, Victor Ikpeba, Ebele Lions FC defeated Segun United Stars 3-1 on penalties after playing out a goalless draw at the end of regulations time in the Five-A-Side soccer competition.
The competition to also celebrate the birthday of Victor Ikpeba saw a total of eight teams participated. They are; Godfrey Blazers FC, Ebele Lion FC, Chidi Spartans FC, Ejioye Warriors FC, Segun United Stars FC, Rico Milan FC, Mccarthy Tigers F and Charlie’s Angel FC.
The champion Ebele Lions got N30,000, a giant trophy and gold medals, second-placed United Stars got N20,000, silver medals and a silver trophy and third-placed Ricco Milan FC got N10,000, bronze medals and a bronze trophy.
Solomon Agbalaka of Ebele Lions FC was voted the competition Most Valuable Player, while Elvis Ndukwu of United Stars emerged as the Highest Goal Scorer.
The Authentic Nigeria Football and Allied Supporters Club led by its president, Prince Abayomi Ogunjimi, gave life to the competition with a full band of supporters that added colour to the competition.
The sponsor of the event, Victor Ikpeba, who had his first-ever sponsored grassroots football competition, said after the competition that he will make the football challenge an annual competition, and will also ensure the Sandy pitch at the Obele Odan Community Centre, Surulere turned into an artificial pitch for better competition. He promised to make the one-day football challenge an annual event especially for youth football development in Lagos State and to celebrate his birthday. Adding that, he is backing the competition to give back to the society that produced him as a soccer star.
Victor Ikpeba was on the ground to present the Champions’ trophy and medals to the eventual winners. Ikpeba will be supported at the event by Honourable Wemimo Odumosu, the Surulere CDC Chairman and Godwin Enarkhena in the presentation of medals and trophies to the winners.
