Chairman of Arthur Ferdinand Ltd., Chief Amurun Idama Esq., has unveiled a multi-million naira football tournament aimed at promoting grassroots sports development and youth engagement across Delta Central Senatorial District.
Tagged the Sheriff Oborevwori U-17 Unity Cup, the competition is designed to identify and harness young football talents from the eight local government areas within the senatorial zone. The tournament will officially kick off on Saturday, August 3, 2025, with the opening fixture between Ethiope East and Ughelli North, scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at the Ekpan Police Station Football Field.
Speaking at the official inauguration of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) held on Sunday, July 13, at Kariot Hotel and Suites, Chief Idama emphasized the importance of grassroots football in talent discovery and community development.
“Promoting youth football will not only expose them to opportunities locally and internationally but also serve as a platform to discover hidden talents across communities,” he said.
The tournament, which will be played in a round-robin format, will feature teams from the eight local government areas of Delta Central, with matches to be held every weekend at various designated venues within the region.
During the inauguration event, 15 main LOC members and 16 sub-committee members were formally unveiled and fully kitted by the sponsor. Each committee member received jerseys, face caps, canvas shoes, and other branded items. Local government teams also received complete sets of jerseys ahead of the tournament.
The event was graced by several dignitaries, including the Director-General of the Warri/Uvwie Environmental Development Agency, Chief Godwin Ejiyere; former and current Chairmen of the Delta State Football Association; Chairmen of Local Government Football Councils; and coaches from across the senatorial zone.
Tournament Rewards and Prizes:
Each of the eight participating LGAs will receive an appearance fee of ₦1 million. Additionally:
Head coaches, assistant coaches, and team secretaries will be fully kitted with jerseys, tracksuits, and canvas shoes
Finalist teams will be awarded new jerseys and football boots
All four semi-finalist teams will receive another set of jerseys and ₦1 million each
Main Prizes:
1st Place: ₦5 million, a giant gold trophy, and gold medals
2nd Place: ₦3 million, silver trophy, and silver medals
3rd Place: ₦2 million and bronze medals
4th Place: ₦1 million
Individual Awards:
Highest Goal Scorer
Best Goalkeeper
Best Player
Most Valuable Team
Best Coach
The tournament’s Local Organising Committee is chaired by former Nigerian international, Mr. Edema Fuludu (MON), with Mr. Victor Odairi, Chairman of UVWIE Football Council, serving as Vice Chairman and Head of Technical, and Mr. Peter Ospiro as Secretary.
Chief Amurun Idama reaffirmed his commitment to youth development through sports and pledged to continue supporting initiatives that foster unity, peace, and community progress across Delta Central and beyond.
