… Discovers 8 Young Stars for Overseas Training
By Emeka Odogwu
It was an evening of blistering pace, thundering tackles, and heart-stopping action as the first phase of the Bishop Owen Nwokolo Soccer Tournament, 2025, lit up the Cathedral Sports Complex, Onitsha, Anambra State, on Saturday, July 26.
According to report from Alex Agom Uzoigwe of the Niger Times, the maiden edition, played under dazzling floodlights, drew hundreds of fans who were left breathless by the spectacle, and thrilled as 8 new football prodigies booked tickets for immediate overseas training and trials.
The scintillating clash which saw a gritty team labelled, “Selected 11” edged past the Bishop Owen Nwokolo Football Academy (BONFA) in a pulsating 1-0 battle, made the evening of tens of the spectators.
The lone strike, a rocket from Emmanuel Junior just outside the 18-yard box in the dying moments of the first half, shattered BONFA’s hopes and left their goalkeeper wailing in tears as the ball rippled the net.
The second half was a siege as the BONFA boys threw everything forward, unrelentingly struggling, hunting desperately for an equalizer. But the “Selected 11”, strong as the Rock of Gibraltar, backs to the wall, dug deep with a defensive masterclass, frustrating their rivals until the final whistle.
Although both teams electrified the crowd with dazzling footwork and swift counters, their wastefulness of opportunities to increase points in front of goal posts, drew whistling anger and groans from fans.
Earlier, BONFA’s Under-15 squad had subdued their U-13 counterparts 1-0 in a 40-minute curtain-raiser, through a penalty shootout.
The tournament, conceived by the Bishop on the Niger, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Owen Nwokolo, and bankrolled by an Anglican sports enthusiast, Barr Rob Izuchukwu, is more than just football.
The bishop had while commending the boys for what he described as their “very wonderful and encouraging performance”, explained why he established the BONFA and its accompanying tournaments.
According to him, “The Bishop Owen Nwokolo Football Academy (BONFA) was founded to help our youth to develop their skills, especially in the area of sports, football, in particular.
“You know that we train people in various areas of life because we have to dominate our environment for Christ.
“We’re raising leaders in all spheres: education, politics, entertainment, and yes, football,” Bishop Nwokolo said. “Clubs from Spain, England, and beyond are already eyeing our boys”, he added.
Also in his speech, the sponsor of the tournament, Barr Izuchukwu, expressed profound appreciation for the ways he said the boys displayed their soccer skills and reiterated his resolve to train some of them overseas as well as find viable clubs for them there.
He scouted about 8 players from the lot for immediate training abroad and encouraged the rest not to despair, promising that the day’s selection was not the final as selection would stretch to December this year.
Highpoints of the event were presentation of trophies and various cash prizes to champions among archdeaconries of the diocese which produced the “Selected Team”.
The evening ended in celebration, with Cathedral, Omagba, and Nkpor Archdeaconries clinching first, second, and third places, respectively in respect of their efforts in training the boys.
The first batch of the eight selected players by the scout were: Ikem Okiwe, Ifeanyi Igwe, and Prince Clement, while the second batch included; Junior Emmanuel, Akagha Okorie and Ùgwù Chinonso.
The rest were, Balogun Samson and Chibuzo Chukwu.
Seven of the players that received boots were: Okoro Ebube, Nweke Emeka, Eze Dịvine and Okonkwo Chiemelie.
Others were: Chukwuemeka Chidubem, Uzowuru Chigamezu and Balogun Samson.
The three referees that officiated at the tournament: Augustine Ezebulie assisted by Ogboli Nnamdi and Asonta Ogonna were highly commended by the bishop and Barr Izuchukwu for performing what they termed “undisputed professional assignment”.
From the stretching hands of Bishop Nwokolo and Barr Izuchukwu the players, coaches, and dignitaries glamorously walked away with medals, trophies, cash prizes, and shiny new boots; capping an evening that may well mark the start of several professional careers in Anambra, nay, Nigeria.
