Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, TEPNG/NNPCL Joint Venture on Tuesday kicked off the 19th edition of the company’s annual football competition for youths of OML58 communities in Rivers State.
OML58 which is operated by the French multinational, is hosted by several communities cutting across Ikwerre, Emuoha, Ahoada-East, Ahoada-West, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
Declaring open the tournament at Elele-Okinali, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Deputy Managing Director, JV Asset, TotalEnergies, Mr. Guillaume Dulout, said the theme of 2022 tournament is ‘playing for peace’ following the success of the last edition.
Dulout said the 19th edition will feature young players (under 20s) as the company target discovery of young talents who could be further developed and projected for a career in football.
According to him, talent scouters have been invited to help identify some potentials. He also said the theme ‘playing for peace’ resonates throughout the year in all the company’s dealings with the youth and the entire population.
“Through this competition, we have been able to identify and nurture budding talents who have done the community proud in State-and national-level competitions.
“Following the huge success of the 18th edition of this tournament, we have retained the theme, “Playing For Peace”, for this edition. This theme resonates throughout the year in all our dealings with the youth and the entire population.
“At this point, I would like to urge all the teams that are participating in this year’s edition not to be pre-occupied with winning, but to also focus on the theme of the event, play in friendly manner and display your talent for easy identification by the talent scouters. What matters most is the number of talents that are spotted.
“I am indeed proud to be part of this opening ceremony, be re-assured of the commitment of the NNPCL/TEPNG Joint Venture to continue identifying with the youth in their efforts to engage in purposeful endeavours, including sporting activities such as football.”
Dulout represented at the event by the Manager, Stakeholders Engagement, Strategy and Management, Mr. Henry Ehuike, also commended the youths of OML58, who according to him have rightly considered themselves as stakeholders and were playing active roles in securing our facilities.
“This attitude of yours is highly commendable. Please keep it up. Influence more youths to be of good behavior and shun the evil of pipeline vandalism which leads to pollution and other environmental hazards.”
Also speaking, the Chairman, Central Organizing Committee of the 2022 edition, Mr Saheed Ogunsanya, said the game was not only for the players to win but to also showcase talents, hence the reason why the 2022 edition was targeted at under 20s.
“The goal of this year’s edition is to discover talents. We believe on the need to empower players with talent, and we believe that in the future some of the players here will play in Europe.”
Also, the Chairman of Rivers State Football Association, Ibigoni Akobo, urged the youths to display their talents with discipline.
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