Ndubuzor tasks NFF, coaches, on Okonkwo tourney

Chairman, Local Organising Committee of the annual Bishop Mike Okonkwo Football Championship, Deacon Malachy Ndubuzor, has charged Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and national team coaches to take more interest in the competition.

Ndubuzor told Extra Time at the National Stadium, Lagos, that the tournament currently in Season 15 has produced many talented players who could be nurtured to represent the country in future, thus should not be overlooked by national team coaches.

“The championship which is being sponsored by the presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, has been going on uninterrupted for the past 15 years which makes it one of the longest running grassroots football competitions in the country.

“It is also the most popular grassroots competition with the highest prize money in the country where the winning team goes home with N 600,000 while the first and second runners-up pocket N300, 000 and N200,000 respectively with a lot of consolation prizes.

“Apart from this, great number of players have been discovered in the competition who later played for the various national league sides and that is why it is important that both the NFF and the various national team coaches should beam their searchlights on the championship to enable them discover players that will be introduced into the national team,” Ndubuzor said.

In some of the matches decided in the Round of 32 matches at the National Institute for Sports (NIS) pitch, Lagos, Tao FC were beaten 1- 0 by Talent FC, while Soccer City defeated Royal Sporting FC 3-2.

Also Team 360 and Sports City played a 1-1 draw, just as Starbase and Sparrow FC ended their game goalless.

Action continues in the tournament today at the same venue.

ANDREW EKEJIUBA