The 20th edition of OML 58 football competition has kicked off in Elele, Rivers State with the theme, ‘Playing for Peace.’
The competition, which is organized under the auspices of NNPC/TEPNG Venture, to promote football as a platform for peace and harmony among host communities, has twenty-one teams competing in five groups.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, held at Okah Memorial Secondary School, Elele Okinali, deputy managing director, Joint Venture Asset, Guillaume Dulout said that the tournament which began in 2002 has become the greatest sporting event not only within OML 58 but also in Rivers State.
Dulout revealed that the tournament, as conceived by NNPC/TEPNG joint Venture, is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Sixteen which are ‘Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.’
Under the United Nations Sustainable Goals Sixteen, NNPC/TEPNG Joint Venture hopes to engage youths of OML 58 in positive ventures that would promote sustainable socio economic development as well as empowerment.
Going down memory lane, the deputy managing director pointed out that the 18th and 19th editions were a huge success as witnessed by the atmosphere of peace in OML 58. The organizers of the competition also retained the theme of the 18th and 19th editions which is ‘Playing for Peace,’ to reemphasize the message of peace as a driver of community development and prosperity.
“In the 19th edition, there were changes made to the rules of the tournament in order to bring beneficial improvement to the competition. One of such change is the inclusion of young players under twenties. The focus is to discover young talent who could further develop a career in football,” he said.
“We have also included women in the officiating team and girls as ball boys to demonstrate our commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Five, ‘Gender Equality,” he added
Guillaume Dulout commended the youths for considering themselves stakeholders in NNPC/TEPNG Joint Venture by being vigilant in the role of securing the environment and keeping the peace. He also commended them for shunning the evil of pipeline vandalism, drug abuse and other social vices.
On his part, Saheed Ogunsanya, chairman, Central Organizing Committee, said for the 20th edition, the tournament expects a higher level of competition among the teams as each year brings better outcomes in sportsmanship. He also said, “The tournament would want to see better disciplined players from the previous edition which saw many players earning yellow cards with one serious injury.”
Ogunsanya announced that the organizers have introduced a fair play trophy for the best behaved player of the tournament, which prize would be given to the winner at the end of the competition.
He called on host communities of OML 58 to encourage their children to take part in the competition, adding that the tournament offers opportunity to participants to be picked by scouts looking for talents to play in international tournament.
The competition kick started with an opening match between the tournament winners of the 19th edition, Ede FC and The Green Boys FC of Obite with a large turnout of members of host communities as spectators.
