Day 5 Bigborogha ll Funeral: Akparemo Wins Evah’s Tournament

By Stephen Asaba-ase and Miracle Esegha

In a thrilling finale, the Akparemo community defeated the Oyangbene community 1-0 to win the Evah’s Tournament, held in honor of the late Monarch, Bigborogha II of Ngbilebiri-Mein Kingdom. The tournament featured six teams from Omolo, Kiagbodo, Bikorogha, Oyangbene, Akparemo, and Ayakoromo communities.

The final match, played at Edwin Clark University’s football pitch, drew a large crowd, including dignitaries such as Hon. Alapala Ebitonmo, member representing Burutu North in Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Paul Kurugbe, Hon. Joseph Alubeze, Comrade Ozobo Austin, Mr Ekanpou Enewaridideke, Chief Masah Okadigbo and Chief Obosu Akwede, community leaders and other personalities.

After a draw in the first half, Aparemo scored the winning goal in the second half, securing their victory. The Oyangbene team showed strong coordination in the first half but lost momentum in the second half.

The victorious Aparemo team received the football cup, N100,000, a football, and a set of jerseys as prizes from Comrade Joseph Evah, the organiser of the tournament. Additional support came from Hon. Alapala Ebitonmo N50,000, Chief Julius Takeme, chairman Burutu LGA, N50, 000, the paramount ruler of Akugbene-Mein kingdom, HRM Pere Stanley Perediagha Luke, Kalana Vlll, N50,000, and other individual who pleaded annomity donated N30,000. The runner-up, Oyangbene, received N80,000 from Evah and a set of jerseys, with Hon. Alapala Ebitonmo supports an additional N50,000.

Furthermore, Dr Shedrack Agediga, chairman, Delta Bursary/Scholarship board and JKing Alfred Izonebi, Ijaw music maestro also awarded a cash prize of N50,000 each for any individual who would predict accurately the winning team, number of goals, condition in which the goals would be scored.

However, the games were very exciting beginning from the opening match to the end of the tournament. There was much jubilation and funfair among dignitaries who gathered for the final match at Edwin Clark University football pitch.

Consequently, Super Comrade Joseph Evah, is the national coordinator of the Ijaw Monitoring Group, IMG. He is a philanthropist and a Niger Delta freedom agitator. He has mentored and empowered many and doled out scholarship for deserving young youths across the country.

The tournament was supervised by Comrade Ozobo Austin, President Ijaw Publishers’ Forum, Hon. Sunny Perekeme, former secretary, Burutu LGA and Hon. Alex Bosun, former appointee in Burutu LGA.

The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC Ngbilebiri kingdom, ably led by Comrade Selekowei Dubasuode was also in collaboration making up the local organising team of the tournament.