Season 20 of Bishop Mike Okonkwo football championship kicks off in Lagos

The playing pitch of the National Institute For Sports (NIS), Lagos came alive Saturday, June 14, when players and officials defiled the heavy downpour witnessed that day and trooped out in their numbers to be part of the official kickoff of this year’s Bishop Mike Okonkwo Football tournament.

The tournament in it’s 20th edition, with the theme ‘ One God, One Game, One Championship will see 44 teams made of 36 male and eight female teams battle for honours in the most popular grassroots football tournament in the country.

Speaking before the kick off which was performed by Rev. Emmanuel OkoOkoni Chairman of the Main Organising Committee of the tournament, Deacon Malachy Ndubuzor admonished all the players to maintain the discipline the competition is known for just as he assured that this year’s championship will be more glamorous than previous editions as it will be used to celebrate the 80 birthday of Bishop Mike Okonkwo, the presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission ( TREM).

” This year’s competition is significant because it will be used to celebrate the servant of God who has joined the octogenarian club and also mark 20 years since we started the competition.
” As you can see, apart from using the tournament to foster relationship among the youths, we also teach them the rudiments of the game. Before the commencement of this year’s event, we tutored the goalkeepers on the new FIFA rule concerning how many seconds they’re to hold the ball to avoid sanction by the referee.

Ndubuzor while expressing happiness that the competition has come of age with teams from outside Lagos participating, also gave insight on the introduction of Booth and Bible in this year’s edition.

” It’s a thing of joy that the tournament that started in the Church’s backyard with some branches has grown to accommodate teams from all over Lagos and this year, we’re having teams from Ogun State which is evidence of it’s acceptability.

“We also introduced Booth and Bible which is aimed at evangelizing the youths, make them not to lose sight of God as well as teach them the importance of coming closer to God and also making the Bible their daily companion

The MOC Chairman appealed to government at all levels to partner with the Church in order to make the competition bigger.

” I want to use this opportunity to appeal to government at all levels and corporate Nigeria to partner with us in order to achieve more successes and further develop the country’s grassroots football

” I sincerely believe that having done so much since the inception of the tournament, with government support, we can do more than what we’re presently doing at the moment.

Meanwhile, in the opening match of the tournament, defending champions , SamJason Fc played out a goalless draw with Mega 22 Fc whose brilliant performance by their goalkeeper, Odili Ebuka ensured they shared the points at stake.

In the female category, Wazbak Queens recorded a 6-1 whitewash of Povatos Angels with Ayomide Taiwo scoring a brace in the one sided encounter