By Amaechi Agbo

Etiti-Ozalla on Sunday emerged champions of the Ozalla Unity Football Competition. They defeated Ishi-Ozalla 2-1 in a keenly contested final played at the football field of  Ozalla High School.

Etiti-Ozalla scored two goals in the first half. Ugwu Chinedu opened the scoring in the 8^th minute before Okoye Onyedikachi scored the second goal on the dot of 23^rd minute.

Although Ishi-Ozalla rallied in the closing stage of the first half, Etiti-Ozalla went into the break firmly on the driving seat.

The resumption of second half saw a sustained enterprise from Ishi-Ozalla who pushed to halve the scoreline but were thwarted by the heroic display of the Etiti-Ozalla goalkeeper, Chukwukadibia Eneh, who made crucial saves to keep them at bare.

However, Ishi-Ozalla brotke the Etiti-Ozalla defence on the 89^th minute when Okolie Ifebuche put the ball in the net to ensure that the remaining minutes where tensed for the winning team.

 Addressing journalists after the final, Chairman of the Organising Committee, Henry Nwabueze Nnamani commended the two teams for giving the fans entertaining football. While describing the Sports Festival as a huge success, Mr Nnamani added that the festival has come to stay.

“Both sides are good teams. Ishi-Ozalla is a better team because they had the possession, unfortunately, goals not possession win games and I congratulate both teams for giving us good football.

“The Festival was a great outing and the committee did their best in coordinating both the indoor and outdoor events. Our aim in organising the maiden Sports Festival is to harness raw talents and bring unity among the five autonomous communities in Ozalla. The five communities participated including the Ozalla All Stars.

“This year’s edition is the first time we are having a Festival because we introduced table tennis, draught, cheese, marathon run and other indoor games. The competition will be a yearly event,” he said.

The chairman further announced that the winner of the football category will receive the sum of one million naira (N1, 000, 000), second placed team, seven hundred naira  (700, 000) while the 3^rd placed team will pocket the sum of five hundred Naira (500, 000). The indoor events also had their respective prizes.

Also speaking, captain of the winning team, Chukwukadibia Eneh expressed joy over the feat, adding that Etiti Ozalla Community will defend the crown next year.

“The match was a hard one, our opponents underrated us, so we are very happy that we beat them. We have not won it before and the victory means a lot to us as a community.

“I was initially an outfield player but I converted to goalkeeper to help my team and I am happy that today, we are vicarious. I want to commend the ODU for this great completion, we will come back next year to defend the title, he said.

Highlights of the competition was presentation of a giant trophy to the winning team while medals and cash rewards will be presented to the winning teams on Saturday during the ODU Award Night event.