44 Teams For Bishop Mike Okonkwo Football Tournament
Organisers of the annual Bishop Mike Okonkwo football tournament has announced that a total of 36 male and 8 female teams will take part in the Season 20 of the championship slated to kick off on June, 14, 2025 at the play ground of the National Institute For Sports (NIS), Lagos.
This was disclosed during the Football Sunday Service tagged ‘Boot and Bible’ with the theme one God, One Game, One Championship held Sunday June 1, at the International Headquarters of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM).
Some of the teams that will take part in the most popular grassroots football tournament in the country includes; defending champions, Sam Jasson Fc, Akoka Fc, CAT FC, Golden Potters, Maryland United, Team 360, Royal Pharaohs and China Sun Stars
Others are; Mega 22 Fc, Dream Chasers, FC Phoenix, Believers Fc, Mighty Stars, Aux Fc, Rehoboth Fc, Amazon Ladies, Victory Queens and Phoenix Queens amongst others.
In an impressive draws held after the Church service and supervised by Rev. Oluwayomimbo Akimbo, the eight female teams were drawn in two Groups and will play a round robin with the Group winners and the runners- up qualifying for the semi- final.
The male teams were also drawn in two Groups and teams in Group A will meet those in Group B on a home and away basis. The first best 14 teams qualifies for the second round while there will be a playoff for teams in the 15th-18th position to determine the two teams that will join the 14 teams for the round of 16 game.
Chairman of the Main Organising Committee of the tournament Deacon Malachy Ndubuzor described this year’s edition as unique and a landmark edition because everything about the upcoming tournament is special.
“This year’s edition is unique and everything about it is special and as the Bishop is marking his 80th birthday, we want to make sure that everything about the competition is not only special and unique but turns out to be the best.
“As you can see, the draws we had today is quite different from the previous ones. It’s standard is much more than what we’re having before and that shows you how this year’s tournament will be”, he concluded
Meanwhile Bishop Mike Okonkwo has commended the Organising Committee of the championship for their efforts in having a seamless competition.
According to the Man of God, the Main Organising Committee of the tournament deserves a path on the back for their commitment and good planning just as he charged them to be relentless in their assignment which has made the tournament a household name in the country.
He stated that he was happy that the tournament since inception has produced great footballers and there has been no reported incidence of injury to the players and officials which he said makes the competition remarkable
This year’s tournament will be used to honour Bishop Mike Okonkwo, the presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission on his 80th birthday.
