THINGS WE LEARNED FROM DR. STEPHEN HWANDE FOOTBALL COMPETITION IN OKPAFIE, EDUMOGA – OKPOKWU LGA.

BY: EJILOGO MICHAEL JOSEPH

History was made in Ipole-Okpafie recently as the community witnessed a great and colourful football tournament sponsored by Chief, Dr. Stephen Hwande.
The tournament featured 7 clans from Okpafie: Ai-Ujah, Oyilawu, Atekpo, Ohaji, Ai-Ikpa, Efi Isho ehaje and Efu-Okpafie respectively.

Dr. Hwande and other dignitaries pose for pictures with the champions Atekpo

The tournament went smoothly until the semi final match between Atekpo versus Oyilawu which was boycotted by the Oyilawu team according to reports available to Jeezitainment.com and Atekpo made it to the final as a result of that. While Ohaji being a small clan made it to the final of the competition beating Ai-Ikpa 1-0 against all odds to face Atekpo who presented some of the best players in the tournament, it’s more of the battle between David Vs Goliath.

Atekpo Team 

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On the final day of the tournament, with mammoth crowds from the whole Okpafie Communities and beyond saw Atekpo came from behind to record a memorable 2-1 victory over Ohaji at the Ipole Ai-Ujah Football Field.
AB Coal from Ohaji put the team in front in the first half with a fine nodding past the Atekpo goalkeeper before Abah Anthony who scored a brace put Atekpo level with few minutes to go in the first half.
Abah Anthony then added the second goal with a fine finish in the second half after a defensive error from the Ohaji team to hand over the trophy to Atekpo amid jubilation from the crowd.

Here, Jeezitainment blog brings you some of the things we learned from the tournament.

1. Okpafie Community is still the Home of Talents
As seen from the tournament, Okpafie is greatly blessed with real talents as the youths brightly showcased their God’s given gifts throughout the tournament, they were interesting to watch, they played entertaining and possession winning football like Barcelona and Manchester City FC in Spain and England. Kelvin Ijiko could be visibly seen dribbling past opposing teams and pulling in great crosses for team-mates, his skills remind you of Neymar coupled with his understanding with forward Abah Anthony who is so strong in the air and with a deadly shot making him the highest goals scorer of the tournament. Joseph Benjamin was arguably the best player from the Ohaji team with is understanding of the game making him to stand out, he could not be man marked just like Eden Hazard of Chelsea in this tournament, Likewise the Ohaji goalkeeper Gideon who pull out great saves to take the team to 2nd place finish reminds you of De Gea of Manchester United. Other notable star players from the tournament are Olekwu John from Ai-Ikpa, Alex Abah from Atekpo, Uleh from Oyilawu, and Michael Clement from Ai-Ujah who was the youngest player in the tournament was scared of nothing, showed his passing skills and strong attacking skills effectively.

Dr. Hwande with match officals

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2. Chief, Dr. STEPHEN HWANDE IS A VISIONARY LEADER
True leaders are those who carry the followers along and consider their welfare. In view of this,  Dr. Hwande a Benue State Governorship aspirant from Guma LGA for the 2019 election showed forth his expertise by answering some of the needs of the community by carrying out free medical /health services in Edumouga district during which about 60 surgical operations were made and over 1,800 people were treated of various diseases and sicknesses for free.
He also have over 100 Okpokwu students on his scholarships list.
The above actions and activities of Dr. Hwande truly prove that he is a visionary leader that values the well-being, education, human development and unity of the people. In appreciation, the Okpafie Community has conferred him an Idoma traditional Chieftaincy title as the, “ O' YAME’E K' OKPAFIE”.
Prominent personalities like Dr. Stephen Hwande, Hon. Linus Ejilogo, Dr. Michael Ijiko, Hon. Emmanuel Pronto Ameh,  Mr Simon Ogbu and other dignitaries from Benue State were present to encourage the youths of Okpafie.

Congratulations to the Atekpo Team.