Day Of Tolerance: CEPEJ Concludes Plan For Delta Peace Cup, Novelty Match Nov 16, Tournament, 17 to December 8
As part of activities to mark the 2024 International Day of Tolerance, November 16, a nongovernmental Organisation, Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), has concluded plans to hold a novelty football match on the 16th of November 2024 to open the 2024 edition of the Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Tournament November 17.
Speaking during a press briefing at the Africa for Peace Center, Ugolo-Osubi, Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State,
The chief sponsor of the tournament, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, and the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Chairman, Hon. Kenneth Nwaomucha, announced that the tournament is scheduled to be played from November 17th to December 8th.
According to Mulade, "The match will feature two teams, each comprising representatives from the six ethnic groups. Team 'A' will consist of Ijàw and Itsekiri, while Team B will comprise Urhobo, Isoko, Ndokwa, and Ika respectively.
"The opening ceremony will take place at Ode Itsekiri, popularly known as Big Warri, in Warri South-West LGA at the FIFA pitch, specifically built by our respected and renowned sports expert, Amaju Pinnick.
"The opening ceremony is fixed for 12 noon; it is a novelty match, and the composition of the team for the novelty match is Ijaw and Itsekiri are to produce a team, while Ika, Isoko, Urhobo, and Ndokwa will produce another team to play the novelty match.
"The essence of it is to promote the peaceful coexistence and to play for unity; that's why you see that we are all coming together to form a team," Chief Mulade explained.
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"The Ijaw's will play their match in Patani on Sunday and Ogbe-Ijoh, the second matches, while the Ndokwa's will play their march at Kwale Township Stadium and Obiaruku. The Isokos will play their march at Isoko Township Stadium. The Uhrobo's will play their match at Modern Primary School at Agbaro field, while the Ika's will play at Agbor Township Stadium, Agbor. The Itsekiri's will play at Nana Modern Secondary School field at Nana College. These are the locations where these matches will start from on the 17th.
"And by the grace of God, this tournament will run till on the 8th of December, which is on Sunday, that's where we will have the grand finale of the finals that we play at Oreorokpe in Okpe LGA of Delta State.
"And thereafter, we intend to have the reception for all the tournament participants and other dignitaries at our newly opened sports arena in the Africa 4 Peace Center. So we're going to have the reception here.
"We are using this opportunity to invite all sons and daughters of Delta State and residents of the state to grace the occasion, to show your support, your solidarity for the tournament."
The LOC chairman, Hon. Kenneth Nwaomucha, while thanking the sponsors (CEPEJ and DESOPADEC) for creating opportunity for youths to showcase their talents, disclosed that three ex-internationals of Delta State origin will be in attendance during the tournament.
He also used the opportunity to condole with the families over the deaths of former under 20 football player in Warri Wolves and Bayelsa United, Gift Atulewa, and the Head Coach, Tech Board in Delta State, Coach Kennedy Akpovena, who is also a coach of FC Planners, praying for their souls to rest peacefully.
The competition is sponsored by CEPEJ in collaboration with the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), K&Q Food Palace and the DPG Group among others.
