The second edition of the Ogbia Football Challenge got off to a colorful start on Saturday, September 24 with the Chief Sponsor of the competition, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, announcing increased prize money for the winners of this year’s edition.

The winner of the second edition of the competition will cart home a giant trophy and the sum of N2,5000,000, the first runner up will smile home with N2,000,000 while the second runner up will be N1,000,000 richer.

Winners of the maiden edition in 2018 received the sum of N500,0000, second placed team had N300,000 while the second runner up collected N200,000.

Speaking at the opening ceremony at the Opume football field, the Chief Sponsor, Iworioso-Markson, who is a former Commissioner for Information and Orientation in the state, called on the youths of Ogbia Kingdom to shun the use of illicit drugs as it could destroy their future.

Iworioso-Markson enjoined the participating teams in this year’s Challenge to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the competition to showcase their skills as players, that will be fortunate to be selected at the end of the tournament, will be sponsored on trials to European clubs to continue their football career.

The Director General of the Robert Sunday Foundation, Chief John Alphonsus Iworioso welcomed the participating teams and affirmed the total support of the Iworioso Foundation to see another successful, rancour-free competition.

Tournament Director, Mr Lawrence Alabrah, equally thanked the Sunday Iworioso Foundation for having faith in his ability to organize another successful competition after the last edition in 2018.

He therefore called on the various communities to imbibe the spirit of fair play which the Ogbia Kingdom is known for and assured all teams of fair officiating to bring out the raw talents that abound in Ogbia Kingdom.

Mr. Iworioso-Markson, who is the Social Democratic Party candidate for Ogbia Federal Constituency in the 2023 House of Representatives election, took the kick off.

The highpoint of the opening ceremony was cultural display by various performing groups which added to the fanfare as all 54 communities in Ogbia Kingdom had representatives in attendance.

The competition will continue on Thursday, September 29 at the Kolo and Otoukpoti centres.