Defending champions, Ogboko Community Football Team on Sunday evening defeated Ugbelle Community to retain the Nze R. A. Oforma Continuity Football Tournament.
In the final match decided at the Umueshi Secondary School, Ogboko team beat their opponents, Ugbelle 3-2 on penalty shoot-out to win the trophy for the second consecutive time.
The game watched by hundreds of football fans including the traditional ruler of Umueshi Autonomous Community, Eshi Chris E. Obi had ended without a goal from either side after 90 minutes.
Thereafter, the referee signalled for penalties and while Ogboko were able to convert three of their spot kicks, Ugbelle could only convert two as the three other spot kicks were saved by the Ogboko team goalkeeper, Ifeanyi Ogenekwu.
However, the most valuable player award went to Ogboko team midfielder, Chinedu Ogukwe.
In the third-place match played earlier, Umueshi Community Football Team defeated Umumaisiaku Community Football Team 4-2.
Sponsor of the competition, Chief Goodfaith Chibuzo Etuemena a.k.a. Bash expressed satisfaction at standard of performance put up by the players.
He said the the competition was able to unveil a good number of young football talents whom he had promised to assist in taking up football as a career.
Bash also commended all those whose support made this years competition a success.
They include the Eshi of Umueshi in whose domain, the competition was staged. Others include America-based Chief Collins Ijeoma from Nempi, Mgbidi in Oru West LGA who made a personal donation of N100, 000 to support the tournament as well as Mr. Chinenye Uzo a.k.a. Akidi who pledged to buy a pair of playing boot for the most valuable player of the tournament among others.
