By Nyerhovwo Oghenetejiri
First Edo/Delta Church Youth Football 2015 Championship kicks off in Sapele, Delta State on Sunday, September 6, 2015 at Okpe Grammar School, Sapele just as the stage is now set for a smooth take off.
This is contained in a statement by World Churches Football Federation (WCFF),organizers of the tournament signed by Pastor Event Eferhobo Ekeruvbe and Mr. Henry Emayomi, President and Public Relations Officer of the Federation respectively made available newsmen at the end of the draws ceremony held at Word of Life Bible Church, Ajamimogha, Warri, the organizers disclosed that a total of seventeen participating church teams were drawn from Benin City, Warri, Sapele, Abraka, Obiaruku and Oleh.
According to the statement, participating teams from Sapele include Winners Chapel Headquarters, Blaze of Fire Ministries, Bethel Baptist Church, Winners Chapel, Shell Road adding that teams from Warri are Dynamic Liberation Church, Living Word Mission, Word of Life Bible Church, Rhema Place Ministry and The Redeemer Catholic Church.
The statement added, “teams from Benin City are Shekinah F,C, Miracle Assembly, Ministry of Perfection and Voice of Freedom Assembly. Also included is Church of God Mission, Abraka, Baptist Royal F.C, Abraka, Christ Apostolic Church, Obiaruku and Cathedral of St. Paul (Anglican Communion), Oleh.”
The organizers further added that venues for the tournament are Okpe Grammar School, Sapele, Federal Government College, Warri, Garrick Memorial College, Benin City and Delta State University (DELSU) Sports Complex, Abraka, noting, “the opening match will take place in Sapele between Winners Chapel and(versus) Blaze of Fire Ministry.”
The organizers further explained that the tournament with a theme: “Solidarity and Unity” is meant to cement relationship in the body of Christ and prepare church football teams in the two states of Edo and Delta in Nigeria for future Church World Cup.
The organizers spoke further, “World Churches Football Federation (WCFF) is a partner with John Paul 11 Foundation for Sports, organizers of the Church World Cup, London. The maiden Church World Cup which was hosted in the city of Goa, India in December 2014 was won by our own Nigeria representative, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Football Club of Lagos, with other participating churches drawn from Brazil, Colombia, Portugal, Ghana, Egypt and Uzbekistan. The next Church World Cup Would be hosted in Colombia in 2016.”
The organizers then used the opportunity to call on Christians, sports loving individuals, private sector, corporate organizations and government to partner with them by way of support, collaboration and sponsorship, adding that they could be reached in their secretariat in Sapele.
