Bayelsa Deputy Gov, Monarchs, Ex-internationals for Dickson’s Unity Cup Finals
Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa
The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd) will today (Friday) lead other notable personalities to the finals of the Governor Dickson Unity Cup, christened ‘the Ogbia Challenge'.
Others billed to attend the event are the Obanobhan of Ogbia, His Royal Majesty Charles Owaba; King of Opume Kingdom, HRM AmalateTurner , members of the State Assembly from Ogbia, serving commissioners, chairperson of the Caretaker Committee of Ogbia local council, other political appointees, members of the Ogbia Restoration Caucus.
Also to attend are some ex-internationals including former Super Eagles player and coach, Sampson Siasia and Nigeria's FIFA Match Agent and Chief Executive Officer of Monimichelle Sports Facility Construction Limited, Ebi Egbe.
The finals of the tournament, according to the Commissioner for Information and Orienta- tion, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, will hold at the Opume Township Stadium in Ogbia Local Government Area by 12noon and will see Otuasega squaring up against Otuokpoti.
Thirty two teams drawn from across various communities in Ogbia started the competition on February 26 in four centres namely Opume, Kolo, Otuokpoti and Imiringi.
Promoter of the tournament, Iworiso-Markson, reiterated the importance of unity among the people of Ogbia Kingdom which was why he threw his weight behind the competition.
According to him, sports remains a vital tool to promote unity and peace and again called on every Ogbia person to shun acts capable of causing setback but work together in oneness and support the administration of Governor Seriake Dickson.
Iworiso-Markson, said that the game of football, was a unifier, noting that during soccer matches, people come together, forgetting their differences.
“It is on the strength of that, that we have thought it necessary to replicate same in Ogbia Kingdom. This tournament is aimed at promoting unity and peaceful coexistence among our people. We are known for our peaceful nature and we want to further demonstrate that before the world.
“We will also use this football tournament to encourage our youths who have the requisite skills and talent in the round leather game to consider it as a career,” he assured.
He added that football remains a means to stardom, to fame and prosperity and urged all the youths who still engage in social vices like cultism to put an end to it and collectively define a future as a people.