Bishop Mike Okonkwo Championship : Rehoboth Fc Begins Title Defence On A Winning Note

The 21st edition of the annual Bishop Mike Okonkwo Football Championship kicked off last Saturday on a good note, with the defending champions, Rehoboth Fc recording a massive victory to announce their readiness to retain their title.

Playing in the opening match of the competition presently going on at the Digital Bridge Institute ( NITEL ) play ground Oshodi, the team exhibited a dominance performance against Victory Fc which saw them recording a resounding 5-1 win over their opponent to announce their arrival at the biggest grassroots football tournament in the country.

The match which was watched by an appreciable crowd; including invited guests and players of all the teams participating in the championship saw the two teams ending the first stanza 1-1.

However, on the resumption of the second half, Rehoboth changed the tempo of the game as they took control of proceedings and scored four goals in the half to ensure they grab the three points at stake.

Speaking shortly after the match, Coach of the winning team, Kehinde Bajudeen, expressed happiness that his players played to instructions and was quick to add that the victory is an indication that they’re in the tournament to retain the title.

” I’m really excited that my boys played to instruction which made them achieve this massive victory. Our opponents gave us a good fight in the first half because some of my regular players came late. But by the time I made the necessary changes in the second half, the story changed.

Coach Bajudeen while commending The Redeemed Evangelical Mission for it’s continuous sponsorship of the tournament announced that his team is out to retain the trophy they won last year, promising a more improved form as the game progresses.

Also in the female category, defending champions, Wazbak International FA recorded a 3-1 victory over Lakeside Queens.

Speaking to our correspondent shortly after the game, Chairman of the Main Organizing Committee of the tournament, Deacon Malachy Ndubuzor expressed gratitude to Bishop Mike Okonkwo, for his love for youth development and empowerment which led to his sponsorship of the tournament.

” I must commend Bishop Mike Okonkwo for his vision in initiating the championship which has produced many talented youths who ordinarilly would not have had any platform to showcase their talent.

” We’ re happy that the tournament since inception has not only become a household name in the country but has produced many talented youths who have gone ahead to play at the top level and we’ll continue to sustain the tempo of the championship.

Ndubuzor, while promising that they’ll not compromise the rules of the game, advised the teams to avoid indiscipline, warning that any act of indiscipline will not be tolerated.

He also spoke on the need for corporate organizations to support the tournament inorder to help talented youths become useful citizens of the country

” I want to make a passionate appeal to corporate organizations to come forward and partner with us to make this competition to continue to grow in leaps and bounds.
” You’re aware that the Church has been sponsoring this tournament for the past 20 years now without any hitch and it’s important that corporate Nigeria come forward and encourage us so that the tournament will become bigger and better”, he stressed.

A total of 32 male and 8 female teams are participating in the tournament which will be played on home and away basis before going into the knockout stage.

The finals will be used to celebrate the birthday of Bishop Mike Okonkwo, the presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission.