Amuzi Immortalizes Prof Onwuliri With Cup Victory
Amuzi Community was on Sunday June 16 united in the community’s 2 1 victory over Ahiazu fc in the final of the Prof. C E O Onwuliri Charity Football Competition which came to its crescendo at the St. Jude Catholic Parish field, Amuzi.
Captain of the victorious home team Uchenna Egbuzor informed Trumpeta after the match that on behalf of the team and the entire Community that they would like to dedicate the victory to the late icon who has done so much to the his people there by immortalizing his name.
The competition which started on May 12 at the same venue witnessed a total of 16 games recording 37 goals, an average of 2.3 goals per match. Eight teams comprising 22 players each with a total of 178 players participated in the one month period competition.
Amuzi took the lead in the 25th minute of the first stanza through top striker Ekeocha Modestus while the Ahizu lads equalized 5 minutes before the interval through Ajoku Chidiebere.
But the home boys determined to ensure that late Prof. Onwuliri’s soul was immortalized scored the winning goal at the 80th minute when Mmegwa Chibuike nodded home a well taken free-kick to send the entire crowed t-into ecstasy.
The winners aside from lifting the giant trophy were presented with gold medals and a cash prize of 200,000 naira while the runners-up Ahiau and the 2nd runners-up Owerri Zone received silver/bronze medals and 150, 000/100,000 respectively.
Disabled Kosirisochukwu Uwalaka from Okigwe Zone was unanimously adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament as he was presented with a cash sum of 20,000. The family of late Prof. Onwuliri, sponsors of the championship also announced that Uwalaka, who is an under-graduate in Abia State University will in addition receive a one year scholarship.
Four players carefully selected by the technical Committee of the LOC, Uchenna Egbuzor (Amuzi), Uchenna Chidiebere (Ahiazu), Modestus Ekeocha (Amuzi) and Benneth Chiamauzo (Okigwe) will in no distant time travel abroad for trials courtesy of late Prof. Onwuliri family in conjunction with its partners from UK, Germany, Belgium and Austria.
The final was heavily attended by dignitries from far and wide including two ex-internationals Mobi Oparaku (MON) and Ben Akwaegbu as fans were all scrambling to catch a glimpse of their presence.
Addressing the crowed before the award presentations Profs late Son Engr. Ken Onwuliri thanked the mammoth crowd that gathered at the venue for showing their respect to his late father adding that with the turn out witnessed throughout the games it shows that their Fathers efforts in helping the society was not in vain.
He also praised the teams and their officials including the LOC members for a hitch free tournament stating that with the level of game experienced during the matches, the sky will be the limit of the players.
Also at the event was the State Commissioner for Finance Deacon Chidi Okafor, Coach Cletus Nwobi (Abuja fc), Chief Echiebe Victor (APU President General), Hon Okechukwu Muoh (Director Ministary of Foreign Affairs, Abuja), Prf. I N S Dozie (Dean of Health Technology FUTO), Engr. I Ikpeazu (PA to late Prof. C O E Onwuliri), Mr. Emeka Dozie (MD Vandoz Pace, Owerri), mwmbers of No. 10 Age Grade (Okwu na Okazi, Prof.’s Age Grade), Engr. Chris Amaefule (HOD Elect. Engr. Dept. IMSU) and a host of others.
NPFL Transfer Window Opens
The 20 clubs in the NPFL will have the opportunity to fortify their squads as the new transfer window opens till the start of the second round in two weeks
The Nigeria Professional Football League transfer window will open today after the end of the first round of the season.
All the clubs will have the opportunity of strengthening their squads for the second round of the season. The first transfer window opened after week nine games and every club in the elite division will make sure they recruit the players that will either make them win the league trophy or finish well in the season.
The coaches have identified the players they need and will be waiting for their various clubs to look for money to quickly sign the players so they can train with the main team before the second round begins on July 3rd.
Trumpeta learnt that the coaches are however not sure if they can get the type of the players that they need because no club will want to release their good players.
A coach with one of the clubs who preferred anonymity told Trumpeta that they will have to watch the Federation Cup matches to see if they can get the good players that they need for the second round.
“I am sure no team will release their good players. And what is the essence of signing players that will not add anything to the players already in the club?
“What I am going to do is to send my assistants to venues of the Federation Cup games and see if we can get National League players to sign.
“That is the only way we can find players because no good player will be allowed to go in any of the Premier League clubs. The good thing about getting players from the National League is that they will be cheap and will also be full of energy.
“I am sure that a lot of coaches will throng Federation Cup venues to look at players and possibly get to sign them.”
Defending champions Kano Pillars continue to lead after the first round with 35 points from 19 matches.
Papilo Extends Luck To Oguta Kids, As All-stars Visit Wonder Lake
Saturday June 15 will forever remain memorable in the lives of Oguta Kid’s, young and old as Nigerian soccer Ambassador Kanu (papilo) Nwankwo and Imo All-stars stormed Oguta for a friendly game.
The game which took place at the playing field of Pricilla Memorial Secondary School (PMS), Oguta saw the All-stars from Owerri overwhelm their hosts (Oguta All-stars) with a 2 1 score line.
Just some few minutes into the game Papilo and his brother Ogbonna Kanu (also an ex-international and former Ajax player) arrived into the arena amid loud ovation that attracted half of the Villagers to the scene.
In his usual charismatic manner Kanu shelved aside being part of the game in other to allow the crowd interact with him especially nursing Mothers and their kids who apparently trooped out en mass to take pictures of their kids and Papilo for good-luck.
Speaking to Trumpeta after the friendly encounter Hon. Ugochukwu Nnah (All-stars President) expressed his happiness over his side’s victory over Oguta All-stars stating that it goes a long way to show good and dedicated his side is.
He further pointed out that even as his players may have retired from active football that they are not tired of playing the game they love so much that has equally given them fame.
The star studded All-stars team from Owerri included Uzoma ‘Bombo’ Onugha (former Spatans player), Sam Anozie (Vice-President and former Iwuanyanwu Player) and Barnax Ibekwe (Secretary). Others are Chief Uche Ejimofor (former GM Iwuanyanwu National), Mike Obi (former Iwuanyanwu cpt.), Mr Teddy Isiadinso (NFF Security Committee member), Mr. Ray Ebede (PA to Kanu and ex-team mate), Coach Kelechi Emetole (ex-international and former Heartland gaffer), Rev. Fr. Chika (Sports philanthropist) and a host of others.
NPFL WEEK 19 RESULTS
Enyimba 1 0 Heartland
Dolphins 2 — 0 Bayelsa Utd
Nasarawa 2 –0 Rangers
Kwara Utd 2 –0 Shooting Stars
Wolves 2 0 Sunshine
Kaduna Utd 3 0 ABS fc
Kano Pillars 2 0 El Kanemi
Lobi Stars 1 0 Wikki Tourist
Nembe City 1 0 Sharks fc
Gombe Utd 4 1 Akwa Utd
CONFEDERATION CUP RESULTS
Brazil 3 0 Japan
Mexico 1 2 Italy
Spain 2 1 Uruguay
Tahiti — Nigeria
