Grassroots football: Osomkeme pledges to expand Epie Unity tournament

…As Yenizuegene emerges winner

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The just-concluded 2024 Epie Unity Football Tournament will be expanded to include Atissa and other communities in Yenagoa Local Government Area (LGA) in Bayelsa.

Grassroots football enthusiasts have described the competition as a success in bringing together youths from different communities in Epie clan in Yenagoa LGS.

The tournament, sponsored by Chief Blankson Osomkeme, was designed to promote unity and discover talents among the youths, promised to extend the tournament to cover communities in Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa.

Speaking shortly after the finals of the football tournament, Osomkeme explained that his motivation for organizing the tournament was to unite the people of Epie clan through football.

“Football is the only game that unites our people.

“When it comes to football, there is no enmity whatsoever. It’s a unifying factor that brings people together, regardless of their differences,” he said.

The tournament, which featured teams from different communities in Epie clan created a bond of friendship, promoting peace, and unity.

Osomkeme noted that the tournament had already begun to yield positive results, citing the example of Edepie and Biogbolo communities, which had previously been at odds but were now united through football.

He expressed delight at the discovery of new talents during the tournament, saying, “That’s the motivating factor why I have to sustain this. It is going to provide more opportunities for more people to showcase their talent and be discovered.”

On his plans to take the tournament to other local government areas in Bayelsa, Osomkeme said, “For now, I want to take it to the whole Yenagoa Local Government Area before extending it to other local government areas. I want to take it step by step.”

Speaking also, the organizer of the maiden Epie Unity Football Tournament, Numese Akwuagbe, attributed the success of the tournament to the unwavering support of the patron and boss, Chief Blankson Osomkeme.

Akwuagbe praised Osomkeme’s commitment to the tournament, saying, “If not for him, we wouldn’t have achieved anything. He has been a supportive figure, and I want to give him praise for that.”

With the success of the maiden edition, Akwuagbe said he is already looking forward to the next edition, which the sponsor has announced will be expanded to cover the entire Yenagoa local government area.

“We are going to work to ensure that it is done,” Akwuagbe said.

In addition to the tournament’s expansion, Akwuagbe has also partnered with Bayelsa United Feeder Team to provide a platform for talented players discovered during the tournament to showcase their skills.

“I have a partnership with Bayelsa United Feeder Team to see how we can fix talents discovered in the tournament into that team,” he said.

Akwuagbe expressed his gratitude to Osomkeme for providing the opportunity to organize the tournament, saying, “I really want to appreciate my boss and Patron for giving me the opportunity to organize this football tournament”.

Meanwhile in the finals of the tournament played at the Opolo Secondary School field, Yenizuegene community defeated Akenfa community in a penalty shootout to lift the trophy with  a

 cash prize of N1m and the runner up Akenfa went home with a  cash prize of N700,000.00 while the second runner up Edepie went home with a cash prizr of N500,000.00.