Ten teams to jostle for honors, trophy at Ave/Ihitte-Uboma Super League

Ten grassroot teams have been listed to display their beautiful football artistry in the first edition of the Ave/Ihitte-Uboma Super League, billed for the Uboma Secondary School Stadium Complex.

PMC Okeke, Chief Executive Officer of Ave International Football Club in Isinweke, Ihitte-Uboma of Imo State gave the hint in a chat with the Media Channel of the Nationwide League One (NLO) team.

Okeke, a well-breed football administrator said: "The Ave/Ihitte-Uboma Super League is geared towards hosting 10 clubs within the Local Government Area, the passion for that is to further develop and discover raw football talents and also engaging the youths into meaningful sporting activities.

"Their catchment area is within Ihitte-Uboma, though each club has the opportunity to register five (5) external players. The essence is for us to host the best tournament with a professional touch and play, as the plan is to show our matches via live stream on television and on our YouTube Channel and also to promote the unity and diversity of our people. In this modern time, football has proven to be the best platform to unify people regardless of race, tribe, or religion, and we thought it very interesting to get involved in this project.

"Some of the best players that will be discovered from the tournament will be recruited into Ave International Football Club for the 2024/2025 NLO season. Others will be scouted by some Nigerian Premier Football League clubs and our European partners. It will be an explosive tourney that will last for 10 or 12 days."

Speaking on his club's mission and vision for football. "I have a very strong passion for football and here at Ave International Football Club, we have a vision and mission for the beautiful game. Our vision is to become a very reputable club in Nigeria and Africa, and also a club that develops talents by giving them role care that each player requires, not players developing on their own.

"We currently have a senior team and a feeder team, our feeder team played in the final of the Nationwide League One/Ikukuoma Super Cup that was held a few months ago. Our teams are well-groomed and that is why it got to the final and lost on the lotteries of penalty."

Meanwhile, the organizers of the Ave/Ihitte-Uboma Super League have named a 10-man Local Organizing Committee (LOC) headed by key Ovuegbe as Chairman.

Other members are Patrick Chiwuike, Jude Uju, CC boy Anyalewechi, Goddy Ndudi, Saint John Okeke- Ave Director of Sports, Dee Chima Ibezim- President Supporters Club, Cheta Ojukwu- Ave Football Club Director of Social and Strategic Mobilization and Chinemerem Frank, while Ogechi Marcelina Obi will serve as Secretary.

Summer FC duels with Ave FC to get inaugural NLO/Ikukuoma Super Cup underway

 

It will be football glitz and glamour in Uboma, Imo State as the inaugural Nationwide League One NLO/Ikukuoma Super Cup kicks off on Wednesday September 6 with an opening fixture between Summer FC and Ave FC.

The NLO secretariat, who last week listed 18 teams, which included two wild cards, released the groupings, match fixtures, timing, and venues that will host the 10-day tournament.

The Uboma Secondary School Stadium Complex, in Ihitte/Uboma LGA, Imo State will host matches of the NLO Super League.

Six (6) groups A to F, have three teams each; as they will battle for pride in the group phase, for a winner from each group to qualify for the Second Round after 18 matches.

The top teams from the six (6) groups will square up against themselves in a Group A and Group B format made up of three (3) teams each, with only the two (2) best teams qualifying for the final of the NLO/Ikukuoma Super Cup billed for Saturday, September 16.

Teams drawn in Group A are Ihitte Uboma-based Summer FC, Ave FC, and Golden Albium FC (Delta State). Group B has Buratai FC (Yobe State), Palm Syrup FC (Akwa-Ibom State), and Paul E FC (FCT), while JSC FC Suleja (Niger State), Divine Praise FC (Lagos State) and Kofar Soro FC from Katsina State make up Group C

Ikukuoma FC (Imo State), Ablegod FC (Ondo State) with Kano-based Hausawa United FC are in Group D, followed by Tudun Wada FC (Kano State), Zeal Minds FC (Benue State) and Vandrezzer  Academy (Akwa Ibom State) in Group E.

The trio of DOHZ FA (Kwara State), Discovery Academy (Kebbi State), and FC Ebedei JNR will slug things out in Group F.

Chief Operating Officer of the nation's third-tier league, Olushola Ogunnowo who spoke ahead of the kickoff.

"We know that Nigerians are passionate about football, so we want to make our grassroot football irresistibly appealing to them and the rest of the World.

“All is still in top gear for the inaugural NLO/Ikukuoma Super Cup without hitches in terms of the logistics we have put in place,” said the NLO’s COO Olushola Ogunnowo.

The tournament which will be keenly contested will see invited foreign scouts, and eight Sporting Directors from different leagues across the world in attendance.

However, the NLO broadcasting department will be live-streaming all matches from the championship for fans all over the world to see.