The Ukpokiti community has emerged victorious in the first edition of the Ovie of Agbarha-Warri Kingdom Football Cup, held to commemorate the first coronation anniversary of His Royal Majesty, Kingsley Emakpor Orereh IGBI II.
The tournament, organized by the Agbarha-Warri Kingdom, was spearheaded by a local organizing committee chaired by former international footballer Edema Fuludu.
The competition, which kicked off on November 24, 2024, and concluded on December 7, 2024, showcased eight teams representing the seven communities of the Agbarha-Warri Kingdom—Otovwodo (Agbassa), Igbudu, Ogunu, Oteghele, Okurode, Ukpokiti, Edjeba—and a combined team of non-indigenes known as RAWK (The Rest of Agbarha-Warri Kingdom).
In a thrilling final match, Ukpokiti defeated Ogunu to claim the championship and the grand prize of ₦3 million.
The team also secured individual accolades for Most Valuable Player and Best Goalkeeper, with each award carrying a ₦100,000 cash prize. Ogunu, as the first runner-up, received ₦2 million, while Edjeba clinched third place with a 2-1 victory over Igbudu, earning ₦1 million.
Other awards included the Best Behaved Team trophy, which went to the RAWK team along with a ₦100,000 reward, and the Highest Goal Scorer award, claimed by Tega Oyeye of Oteghele community.
In his address, HRM Kingsley Emakpor Orereh IGBI II pledged to sustain the tournament as a platform for nurturing young talents and fostering unity within the kingdom and its neighboring communities.
He also announced a ₦500,000 consolation prize for each of the remaining five teams, emphasizing the spirit of inclusivity and shared success.
The Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Comrade Edema Fuludu, praised the monarch’s unwavering support for sports, describing him as a passionate advocate for grassroots football development. Similarly, the President-General of the Agbarha-Warri Kingdom, Chief Emmanuel Oghenerhoro Ememu, lauded the tournament's success, attributing it to the visionary leadership of HRM Kingsley Emakpor Orereh IGBI II.
The event drew an array of dignitaries, including the Managing Director of Nigeria Gas Company, Engr. Seyi Omotowa; Provost of the College of Education, Edjeba, Chief Dickson Oyovwi; community leaders; traditional chiefs; and former football stars such as Mobosa Brodericks, Ezekiel Akpofure, and Chief Kenneth Nwaomucha, the ex-chairman of the Delta State Football Association.
The inaugural tournament not only celebrated the kingdom’s cultural heritage but also laid a solid foundation for the future of grassroots sports development in Warri.
