2nd Victor Ikpeba Football Challenge, Obede Odan 2022 Kicks Off In Lagos

The second edition of the Victor Ikpeba Football Challenge, a Five-A-Side Competition for youth footballers in the Surulere Local Government Area,  Saturday, June 4, at the Obele Odan Community Centre, Fujah, in the Surulere Local Area of Lagos, will officially kick off Saturday at the Obele Odan Community Centre, Fujah, Off Randle Avenue, Surulere.

Eight teams will feature in the week long event.

The grassroots football competition with the theme:  “Giving Back” is Ikpeba, the 1997 African Footballer of The Year award winner’s own way at giving back to the Nigerian society that made him a world-class soccer star.

Victor Ikpeba, said Friday in Lagos that: “After hosting the first edition at the Obele Odan Community Centre, muted by veteran sports journalist and member, Media Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Dapo Sotuminu, who is also the Chairman, Obele Odan CDA, last year, he discovered the need to spread the competition across Nigeria to ensure he helps improved the fortunes of young Nigerian footballers. And he was in Warri, Delta State, later in December to host the same Five-A-Side competition tagged “Warri 2021”, this came a huge success. Other big cities across Nigeria are still going to host the Ikpeba Football Challenge before this year runs out.

According to the Acting Chairman, Obele Odan Sports Committee, Mr. Godfrey Aluede, the 2022 Ikpeba Football Challenge “Obele Odan ’22 will be played on knock-out basis starting from today at the Obele Odan Community Centre, Fujah, Off Randle Avenue, Surulere, by the eight participation teams which include: Odogwu Football Club of Abina Street, Gantos FC of Kofoworola Square,  Milano Ricco FC of Randle Avenue and Home Base FC of Rotimi Square. Others are Legacy FC of Modile Way and Abe Igi FC of Benson Street.

Godfrey Aluede, who is also the Head of the Organising Committee for the event, said at the end of today’s matches, the four semi finals teams will emerge to prepare the grounds for the grand final of the competition on June 12; a date that would see Victor Ikpeba celebrating his birthday and also presenting prize monies, medals and trophies to winners.

Aluede, expressed his readiness to organise an international standard competition with partnership with the Lagos State Football Association and Bet9ja.

The eventual winners of the 2022 Victor Ikpeba Football Challenge, will go home with a total prize monies of N250,000, broken down thus; champions taking home N100,000, second place N70,000, third place N30,000 and fourth place N20,000.

Medals and trophies will be presented to all winners. There will also be awards for the Most Valuable Player, Best Defender, Highest Goal Scorer and Best Midfielder in the competition.

The Head of Football Competitions in Obele Odan CDA, Mr. Michael Aluede, said the stage is set for the biggest football tournament in the Obele Odan Community, and all hands are already on deck to have a very successful event.

“We have done it before last year, we are determined to do it better in 2022 with the cooperation of all and sundry,” he said.