Ibori U-19 Cup ends today, Ethiope-West beats Patani in semi

After weeks of exciting soccer display by youths in all 25 LGA Areas of Delta State, the maiden edition of Chief James Onanefe Ibori U-19 football competition will end today at Oghara Township Stadium.

The Ibori U-19 football competition is being organised by Sports & Youth Development Academy (SYDA) to create a platform for the youths to showcase their talents.

In one of the semifinal matches decided yesterday morning, Oghara team, which is representing Ethiope West Local Government Area in the competition, overcame a tough challenge from Patani with a 5-4 victory on penalty shootout.

The match had ended 0-0 in full time, while the ensuing penalty shootout ended 4-4 before the it was settled on sudden dearth, where the boys from Oghara had the upper hand. Goalkeeper Tare Tibowei was the match hero yesterday.

The head coach of Oghara team, Raymond Ofa and his players, including Richard Iweta, who plies his football trade with Ika Rangers FC, and Fortune Ofa, a midfielder with an amateur club in Lagos celebrated late into the night yesterday.

The Oghara team will face the winner between Aniocha North and Ndokwa East in today’s final at Oghara Township Stadium. Chief Ibori, a former governor of Delta State, is expected to grace the final with top dignitaries expected from within and outside the state.

A member of the organizing body, Dr. Henry Ofa was full of praises for Oghara team reaching the final yesterday. He called on football-lovers from Oghara and its environs such as Mosogar, Jesse, Sapele and Warri to turn out massively in today’s final.

Governor Ibori’s tenure as Governor turned Delta State into Nigeria’s Mecca of sports, with Chief Solomon Ogba, who was then sports commissioner, leading Team Delta to winning three editions of the National Sports Festival at Bauchi 2000, Abuja 2004 and Gateway 2006. The state also came second at Edo 2002. Ibori’s tenure also witnessed the construction of stadia in Warri, Oleh, Ughelli, Ogwashi-Uku, Agbor, Oghara and Kwale. He also hosted of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Women Nations Cup twice in 2002 and 2006.