Dhemiuz Football Club of Eket has emerged champion of the 2021 Eket Federal Constituency Unity Cup Competition, played in honoured of the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Special Duties, Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Etteh.
Dhemiuz FC, with an average age of 23 years came up against the defending champions, Upenekang Town FC, winning 4-5 on penalties after a pulsating 90 minutes which ended goalless on Sunday, December 5, 2021, at the QIC Primary School ground in Ibeno Local Government Area.
Goalkeeper Francis Victor was the hero of the afternoon for Dhemiuz FC, denying Upenekang Town FC twice from the spot to help his side emerge champions for the first time.
Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Etteh, who was represented at the event by the Special Assistant to Governor on Projects Monitoring, Hon. Ekoakwaha Etteh, while applauding the organisers of the tournament, Eket Federal Constituency Grassroots Coaches Association, was grateful for the event which he described as a unifying factor in the area.
“Everything that has a beginning must also have an end. I thank God because we have been able to see a beautiful tournament organised by the Eket Federal Constituency Grassroots Coaches Association, 2021 edition.
“I am honoured that you have decided to play this tournament in my honour. I want to commend the two teams for the sportsmanship they displayed today, both sets of players were well behaved including the fans from Ibeno and Eket.
“Two teams cannot emerge in a final of a tournament, there must be a winner and I congratulate Dhemiuz from Eket.
“With the success recorded in this event, we will be interested to work with Eket Federal Constituency Grassroot Coaches Association and will like to partner with them to ensure subsequent editions will be better and bigger than this.
“I want to encourage our boys, please, don’t just end here, continue to pursue your career in football. Let this be the starting point, by the grace of God, the sky will be your limit.”
Road to the finals
Dhemiuz and Upenekang played all the way to the finals with the Eket side going home with the trophy. 13 teams participated in the tournament – SAM (Eket), Mkpanak Town (Ibeno), Unity FC (ONNA), Achang Bombers (Ibeno), Atletico (Esit Urua), Terminal Stars (Ibeno), Deccepee (Mkpat Enin), JTF (Ibeno), Josima (Eket), Light Academy (Ibeno), Scorpion FC (Eket), Unity Stars (Esit Eket), Rocker FC (ONNA) and AKSU (Mkpat Enin).
The biggest story of the tournament happened in the quarter-finals between eventual winners Dhemiuz and AKSU. After taking the lead in the first half, Dhemiuz were reduced to 9 men following two red card incidents, but they managed to win and progressed to the semifinals.
In the last four, Upenekang played a goalless draw with Okoroutip but progressed after winning 4-3 on penalties while Dhemiuz and Mkpanak Town recorded a similar scoreline after 90 minutes, but Dhemiuz triumphed 5-3 on penalties.
Mkpanak Town came third beating Okoroutip 1-0 in the third-place match played at the Upenekang Stadium on Sunday.
The sum of One Million (N1,000,000) Naira was donated to participating teams as reward by the sponsor of the tournament, Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Etteh, with the top three teams smiling to the bank. Winners (Dhemiuz FC) received the cash prize of N300,000; the second position (Upenekang) received N200,000; while the third position went home with N100,000.
All participating teams also received the sum of N25,000 each courtesy the Honourable Commissioner for Special Duties.
Roll Call
Special Assistant to the Akwa Ibom State Governor on Project Monitoring, Hon. Ekoakwaha Etteh; immediate past Chairman of Ibeno LGA, Rt. Hon. Sunday Isokobo; Ibeno Chapter Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, Hon. Emma Ibok; Leader of Ibeno Legislative Council, Hon. Ekemini Abang; Youth President of Upenekang, Barr. Martins Asukpa; Councillor of Ward I, Hon. Samuel Usen; Councillor of Ward 4, Rt. Hon. Nseabasi Elijah; Councillor of Ward 7, Rt. Hon. Hanson Hanson; Councillor Ward 10, Rt. Hon. Owoidighe Odiongito; Chief Executive Officer of Flying Sports Academy and football players’ intermediary, Mr. Marshal Mbre; former Supervisor for Education, Mr. Tom. Afia and former Ibeno Youth Council Chairman, Comrade Edem Ebong among others.
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