The second Patience Umo Eno Memorial Football Tournament has opened in Esit Eket Local Government Area with a goalless draw, as the competition brings together youths from the council’s 10 wards in a grassroots sporting programme designed to promote unity and positive youth engagement.
Ward Two, Edo, and Ward 10, Afaha Ekpenedi, cancelled each other out in the opening fixture on Sunday at Afaha Ekpenedi, producing a scoreless encounter watched by an enthusiastic crowd of community members and football supporters.
Beyond the result, the tournament is providing a platform for young people from different parts of Esit Eket to interact and compete under one sporting banner, with 30 matches scheduled before the final on October 25, 2026.
The Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, who was represented at the opening ceremony by the wife of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Inemesit Uwah, commended the initiative for using football to connect young people at the grassroots.
Obareki specifically praised the Special Assistant to the Governor on Support Groups, Victor Etangkanga, for organising the competition and using it to sustain the memory of the late Pastor Patience Umo Eno through youth-focused community engagement.
She described sports as a practical avenue for promoting peace, solidarity and youth development, urging the participating teams to combine competitiveness with discipline and respect for one another.
The ceremonial kick-off preceded the opening match, which saw both sides create an atmosphere of competition without finding the decisive goal.
The tournament features teams drawn from all 10 wards of Esit Eket, giving the competition a broad grassroots reach as the participating sides battle through the scheduled fixtures towards the October 25 final.
Among those present at the opening were the wife of the Commissioner for Youths, Dr Goodness Ekanem; wife of the Chairman of Urue Offong Oruko, Mrs Elizabeth Uno; and Vice Chairman of Etinan Local Government Council, Hon. Imaobong Michael.
Also at the match was the Vice Chairman of Esit Eket, Pastor Eddy Etangkanga, who represented the council chairman, alongside friends and associates of the tournament organiser.
With 29 matches still to be played, the opening stalemate has left the competition wide open, while shifting attention from the first result to the larger objective of using sport to build interaction and community bonds among youths across Esit Eket.
