All roads will lead to the practice pitch of the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri as from November 2nd, 2022 as Ikukuoma Foundation in partnership with Like-Minds Fitness Club, Owerri coordinate the debut edition of the Ikukuoma Secondary Schools Football Competition for schools in the Owerri Zone Senatorial District of Imo state.
The competition, which is aimed at strengthening sporting activities in Secondary Schools in Owerri Zone of the Imo State is sponsored by the President of Ikukuoma Foundation, Dr. Summers VC Nwokie and organized by Like-Minds Fitness Club in conjunction with Imo State Ministry of Education and Imo State School Sports.
The opening game of the competition holds between Amakohia Comprehensive Secondary School and Ngor Okpala High School by 10 am on Wednesday November 2nd at the Practice Pitch of the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.
The second game starts by 12 noon as Comprehensive Secondary School, Ubomiri slug it out with Army Day Secondary School, Obinze.
The first round games end on November 9th with Community Secondary School, Owalla, Avuvu, Ikeduru battling with Owerri City School, Owerri while Saint Patrick Secondary School, Ahiazu Mbaise have a date with Okpala Secondary School.
Ezeagbogu Secondary School, Ezinihitte got a berth to the next round without kicking a ball after they picked the lucky bye that put them through to the second round.
Explaining the modalities of the competition to journalists in the presence of the representatives of the participating schools; Director of School Sports, Joseph Ochugamonu; the President, Like-Minds on Wednesday at the Secondary Education Management Board building along Orlu Road, Owerri, the Director General of the humanitarian outfit, Comrade Julius Nnaji said Ikukuoma Foundation is a non profit organisation set up to make impact in the world in the area of community/ rural developmental projects and nurturing talents to stardom through sports and also helping the physically challenged and less privileged.
He reiterated the commitments of the foundation in the area of sports, health using same as a veritable tool for youth development and also reeled out some of the activities done so far in that respect, by the foundation.
He also pointed out the need for such sporting activities to be narrowed down to secondary schools in a bid to make foundational basements aimed at creating future athletes who can make meaningful livelihoods via sports as well as reducing social vices which may be occasioned by idleness and bad associations.
The President of Like-Minds Fitness Club, Mr Chuks Dike while speaking on the upcoming event, corroborated the facts earlier highlighted by Comrade Nnaji stating that the competition was borne out of the desire to give back to the society.
Dike maintained that secondary school football tournaments has in the past acted as a ladder for young talented footballers to climb to greatness, saying that school sports had produced ex internationals, such as, Henry Nwosu (MON), Kanu Nwankwo (OON), Mobi Oparaku (MON) including himself (Chuks Dike).
The tournament is supported and endorsed by Imo State Ministry of Education; Secondary Education Management Board, and Imo State Football Association as they are equally involved in oversight partnership.
The competition sponsored by Ikukuoma Foundation for secondary schools in Owerri zone is a welcome relief with competition of such nature yet to be done in years.
The gesture by Ikukuoma Foundation and their technical partners, Like-Minds Fitness Club will greatly make a difference by bringing back the glory days.
21 Schools from Owerri Zone are expected to take part in the 2 weeks tournament as the draws will be held this weekend at the Ministry of Education Auditorium at State Secretariat, Owerri.
So many wonderful incentives and heartwarming prizes are to be won by the participating schools. The winner of the tournament will smile home with N200,000 while the second and third will receive N150,000 and N100,000 respectively.
Players and schools that distinguished themselves would also be rewarded. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the competition; Highest scorer; and Best Goalkeeper will each raceive N20,000 while the Most Disciplined School will be rewarded with N50,000.
Ikukuoma Foundation’s Owerri Zone Secondary Schools Football Tourney
FIRST ROUND FIXTURES
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2022
- Comprehensive Sec. Schl, Amakohia vs Ngor Okpala High School (10 am)
- Comprehensive Sec. Schl, Ubomiri vs Army Day Sec. Schl, Obinze (12 noon)
Thursday, November 3rd, 2022
- Community Sec. Schl, Umuonyeali, Mbeiri vs Pater Noster Sec. Schl, Ahiazu Mbaise (10 am)
- Comprehensive Sec. Schl, Orji vs Comprehensive Sec. Schl, Ngugo (Ikeduru) (12 noon)
Friday, November 4th, 2022
- Emmanuel College, Owerri vs Okwuato Sec. Schl, Aboh Mbaise (10 am)
- Government Sec. Schl, Owerri vs Mbaise Sec. Schl, Aboh Mbaise (12 noon)
Tuesday November 8th, 2022
- Nekede Sec. Schl, Owerri vs Obizi High Schl, Ezinihitte (10 am)
- Boys Model Sec. Schl, Owerri vs Oboama Sec. Schl, Ezinihitte 12 noon)
Wednesday November 9th, 2022
- Community Sec. Schl, Avuvu (Ikeduru) vs Owerri City School, Owerri (10 am)
- St. Patrick Sec. Schl, Ahiazu Mbaise vs Okpala Sec. Schl.
