Novelty Match : Kun Khalifat FC humble Uzoma & Family FC, 2-1

Hon. Kelechi Ohaka, doing the kick off on behalf of, Hon. Martin Ihezuo, the member representing Oguta State Constituency in Imo State House of Assembly .

By Everest Ezihe, Oguta

Kun Khalifat FC, Owerri one of the mysteries of Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL last Friday humbled hard fighting and youthful Uzoma & Family FC, Mgbala Agwa in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State in a friendly derby played as part of the burial programme of late
Pa Cyril Agughalam Elegbua Nwanneyamuruberenwa, (Hi-Man), aged 89 years, the father of Mr. Uzoma Elegbua ( Akpoaza) the proprietor and financier of Uzoma & Family FC.

The match which was played at Siemer Field Mgbala Agwa by 4.30 pm witnessed good but skillful football from both sides even though initially Kun Khalifat boys with the ego of big boys playing in Nigeria premiership underated the rural team that demonstrated fortifications and tactics in all departments of the game.

One thing outstanding is that Siemer Field was standard with good maintenance that the visiting team were shocked having such a quality field in a rural community like Mgbala Agwa, the standard but well grassed field allowed easy flow of the ball as both team displayed good football sense.

The game pulled overwhelming historical turn out of fans and supporters both within and outside the environ, however , the vociferous supporters and fans aided with musical instruments showed infectious support to the home team as they seemed bonded with the players, visibly noticing their patriotic excitement in shouting their names with passionate expectations on the field of play.

One thing was certain, that the fans and supporters who were mainly for the local team enjoyed good and exciting football as both teams showcased skill artisteries and experiences to their shouting delights of happiness.

However, some of the boastful fans and supporters, were persistently walking majestically and confidently round the field, and openly claiming to disgrace the Premier league team with a minimum of 3 goals to nil, but unknown to them that the young man quietly sitting behind the VIP canopy is Mr. Michael Amaefula, the owner and financier of the Premier ship football club who through out the period of suspense was quite, unperturbed and unassuming, just intermittently drinking his bottled water and talking to one of the aides that surrounded him.

There was spontaneously quietude in the 21st minutes of play when Kun Khalifat through a tailor made volley disvirgined the goal post of the Spartans spirited local team, the goal spontaneously humbled the fans and supporters.

Truly, the world class goal changed the tempo of the game and the noisy environment as Amaefula bolding came out marshalling out instructions to the coach and players and boasted to gave the local team 300k ( three hundred thousand Naira) if they win his team in the friendly derby.

The goal served like a tonic as the local team charged, firing from the wings and aggressively hungry for an equalizer but the Owerri boys were able to tame and contend them. However, the efforts paid off in the 38 minutes as the local within the 18 yard box ball scrambling perfectly and systematically find the net of the visiting team and recorded an equalizer. The field charged, the supporters and the fans acted like loosed lions.

Amaefula became disturbed while Uzoma popularly know as Akpoaza was happy and excitingly moving from one place to the other even as his first son was part of the local team and exhibited doggedness and mastery of the game.

It was a seamless draw at the end of the first half, and while resting to go in for the second half, worried Amaefula said it point blank that if the local win his team, he will immediately transfer N2m to them in appreciation and the money will be deducted from the players November salary to serve as a deterrent for lack of commitment. Many of his players and management staff over heard him.

Probably, his statement of action triggered his team to dictate the pace of the game during the second half and their efforts really paid off in the 69th minutes of play, thus humbling the local team as the match finally ended with 2-1 in favour of the premiership team. It was a tough match even as team Kun Khalifat confessed that khaki no be ladder.

The most interesting gain of the football fiesta was the discovery of 3 key players of the local by the CEO of Kun Khalifat FC, a football club known for their penchants in harnessing, and developing budding football talents and he immediately directed that the players should come to their camp for proper and official engagement.

Speaking to Sports Journalists shortly after the game Mr. Uzoma Elegbua who’s the proprietor and financier of Uzoma & Family FC expressed satisfaction with the game’s outcome and comradeship noting that the friendly match achieved its purpose of honouring his deceased sports loving father, who will be buried this Saturday, 29/11/2025
at late Mr. Elegbua Eluchie family of Umuesoegbelu Mgbala Agwa after the corpse leaves Specialist Hospital Owerri and a requiem mass at St. John Catholic Parish, Mgbala Agwa.

Elegbua, (a.k.a Akpoaza) re-emphasized that the friendly match was also planned towards achieving his passion of helping in the discovering, harnessing and developing football talents within and around the community and thanked God that the Premier ship club discovered 3 of his players and have shown enormous interest to engage them.

He passionately expressed his appreciation for his friends, family members, relations, business associates and well wishers who graced the friendly match or the burial proper or both as part of their concerned solidarity to the family during their grief period.