By Dr Innocent Chidumebi Okonkwo
Today is the final day of Ijenoke Ogene shoot out, The month long event ends today, Tuesday, October 31st 2023 by Midnight to be precise.
The last day of every season of Ijenoke Ogene Ivite crowd funding competition has always been exclusively reserved for the big teams. It has always been the most important part of the competition as the top contenders; Umunnoke Okpu, Owelolie, Amerulu and Umungalagu will settle their scores at 11:59 pm tonight.
Already, the Tony Oli's boys are no where to be found in the race, quite unlike the past three seasons when Hon. Chinedu Obidigwe lined up a 30 man squad that prosecuted the last match against the most rival Umunnoke Oruba team. Akaoma's wife, Mmilinma Obidigwe tested her microphone on Isiokwe outing with Super Ijele strike but that effort was not able to push the defending champion and the Ivite Aguleri three times winner to top 3 let alone of being a contender for the first position.
Prince Anekwe Nwa Anekwe's microphone testing ceremony of last week has also put fear into other teams like Umunnoke and Owelolie. The Dubai based has done what only Hon. Chinedu Obidigwe has done in the history of Ijenoke crowd funding competition and the fear is that he can spring up more surprise this night.
The position of Oruba team in the table has made it very difficult for any team to challenge them in today's final shoot out as the runner ups Okpu and Owelolie will be struggling for second position. While Amerulu, Umungalagu and Umuawunu will fight for 4th position.
Anekwe Nwa Anekwe is now in the status of Super Ibobo striker and has also vowed to use all his energy in combination of Chukwudi Winter in fighting Owelolie team for today's trophy.
Information has it that Okpu is already preparing for at least first runner ups' party and to entertain a lot of visitors this night because they are very confident of winning the second position and go home with cow and George Udedibia has severally challenged Owelolie team in an open forum to come out and fight and stop finding a way to win by trick.
Both Okpu indigenes and Ndi Owelolie will be present at Okukuizu market square tonight with their supporters when the result will be announced by 12 mid night.
On the other part, The Umunnoke Oruba team are not leaving any stone unturned as the coach, Barr. Peter Madubuko( Ajilija) and Prof Michael Obiefune have severally threatened Isiokwe Agamebu with the statement " *Obuzi maka na anyi gbali Ndi Isiokwe nkili" Obiefune said they intentionally allowed Isiokwe to win the trophy three times because of Akaoma's political ambition but will no longer accept anything less than first position this time because it has become an image battle in which Isiokwe Agamebu has won three times and Umunnoke Oruba wants to also equal their own winning to three.
This particular fight will equal Oruba team with Agamebu team if they finally wins the trophy. Just last night, Obiefune continued with his threats " *But let it be clear that Tony Oli, Isiokwe and Chinedu Obigwe are no longer in the race for top first position.*
*Just like Okpu and Owelolie will be dragging their 2nd and 3rd positions. Umunnoke has already won the 2023 trophy making us the third time winner."*
The team coach Barr. Peter Madubuko (Ajilija) used his first team to prosecute last Saturday's match and rose to the top of the league table. He has enough men to do the job. He believe that If Umunnoke second team could top the table last year, before Obidigwe dying minute magic denied them the trophy, that early introduction of the senior boys like Gab Mabia, Edwin Udenze, Rev. Solomon Emeka, Akpali etc would make a great impact for the team.
The Umunnoke Oruba team is believed to have played all their reserves as they featured Udummili, Law Ikebudu, Ms Chuto Obiefune, Mrs Amaka Obiefune, Igwe Ogefe, Wowo, Onyeka Chinenyenwa in the last minute of the Saturday's match.
Umunnoke did not reserve any strength for tonight's outing as Ajilija believed that the gap he secured is enough to win. He also played, Akummili as a super Ijele and Obi Obiefune to discourage the rivals from challenging their first position.
Ajilija has exhausted all his strength for the team without considering that there could be an ambush against Umunnoke Oruba team tonight.
The 2023 first and second positions are exclusively reserved for Umunnoke, Okpu and Owelolie whereas, it's obvious that Isiokwe team will not fight for any position this night. Abor had vacated their regular 3rd position since last year and are not also ready to do anything this night.
Tonight's fight is second position between Okpu and Owelolie.
Tony Moore and his brothers from Umungalagu have done well this season, they have moved to the middle of the table and will be contesting 4th position against Amerulu.
The CJ Mbanefo's Side, Okpodo have done well this season too but may not defeat any team this year, due to their small population.
Now that Isiokwe has recorded 3 winnings and Umunnoke has recorded two, while Amerulu won once in the Ivite Aguleri most cherished crowd funding competition. Today's battle for supremacy will go a long way to define who is who in the modern history of Ivite Aguleri.
The winner will go home with big cow, the first runner up medium cow, third position big ram and the 4th position big he goat. Wishing all the Ivite Aguleri teams best of luck.