Two private-owned club sides in Imo State, Fr Eburuaja FC and Ikukuoma FC will clash in the final of the 2024 Federation Cup at the Old Stadium Owerri, Silvernews.com.ng reports.
Both club sides are less than three years in the football industry. Fr Eburuaja FC took the sports world by storm when they got to the round of 32 at the National FA Cup last season after ending as runners up in the state.
They ended 2023 as the winners of the champions league in the state. The team fully sponsored by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Eburuaja, has become a rallying point for youths of Orlu local government area and its environs and has given them an opportunity to stay away from vices in the area.
Speaking with silvernews.com.ng, the Catholic priest said he decided to come up with the team as a way of helping the youths excape from the daily crisis they found themselves in the area adding that he is using the club as part of his evangelism to win souls to Christ.
On their part, Ikukuoma Football Club Mbaise will try to become the first club from Mbaise Nation to win the trophy for the first time.
The team founded a year ago ended last season as the winners of the NLO champions of the south east.
The club under the leadership of High Chief Summers Nwokia, Akaji Ikuku 1 of Mbaise is a result of various youth football competitions organized by the Ikukuoma Sports Foundation that organized the just concluded Owerri zonal under 20 championship and Ikukuoma Mbaise Nation Cup.
Speaking ahead of the final, director of the foundation Mr Julius Nneji told silvernews.com.ng that the club is set to be the first team to deliver the trophy across the Azaraegbelu Bridge to Mbaise Nation adding that the club’s proprietor, High Chief Summers Nwokia has motivated the team to win the trophy.
The game that will come up at the Old Stadium Owerri at 3pm will mark a new beginning for private football teams in the state as the two teams have also qualified for the National play-off coming up later in the year.
