How Ubaha FC Thrashed Umudiabor To Win 2024 Ndiowu Football Championship in Dramatic Finale

By Chukwuemerie Anyene

UBAHA Football Club thrashed Umudiabor 4-0 in a dramatic finale on New Year’s even to emerge winner of the 2024 edition of Ndiowu Football Championship.

The match covered by AnambraDaily’s reporter, lived up to its hype with the four goals scored in the second half of the match.

Community Secondary School, Ndiowu, venue of the tournament’s finale was filled to the brim, with spectators, fans, cheer leaders and the football officials.

While Ubaha FC wore blue Jersey with a touch of white, Umudiabor FC wore fairly dark colour with a touch of red.

After the second half whistle went off at 4:58pm, Ubaha players took control of the ball. They moved with agility and craft, to pass the skidded ball to teammates before sending it to the strickers. The Ubaha number 7 player, Chisom Owuh scored the first goal at 5:00pm, through a free kick similar to that of Jay Jay Okocha. Umudiabor FC was also given a yellow card in another foul play.

Within few minutes of scoring the first goal, Ubaha players were steadily heading for another goal. Dissipating so much energy, the match was so tensed that Umudiabor players could not withstand the pressure from the Champion. Winner Basil Owuh, playing 9, dribbled past the walls of Umudiabor defenders. It was a rout! Loud shouts of encouragement came from spectators. The number 9 player beat the defender, wriggled past the second, disgraced the third and came face to face with the goalkeeper. He could not afford to squander the goal – It was a goal! This scoring came at exactly 5:07.

As the match progressed, the number 11 player, Ifechukwu Okeke (Captain) made another definitive journey into the goal net. With a quick and hard shot 18 minutes into the second half, he scored the third goal. The whole community erupted with frenzy, shouting ‘Fada Fada!’ as he was fondly called, on the pitch of their voice. Spectators were cheering and jumping with excitement, just as Umudiabor goalkeeper stood for one stunned moment, looking at the ball in the net!

The cheer leaders heightened the celebration in a way that boosted the morale of players the more. With the speed of a light, Olisah Ike (Ubaha number 4 player) journeyed straight to the 18. At 5:51pm, he saw a space, shot and slammed the ball into the net, to further raise the bars of victory for Ubaha. The Umudiabor goalkeeper leaped into the air and stretched out his arms but could not quite reach the ball. Apart from the golden cup, Ubaha FC also produced the highest goal scorer (Chisom Owuh) and best coach (Onyeka Okeke).

However defending Champion, Obinagu FC who flopped in 2024 Ndiowu Football ranking, for trailing several teams, was able to produce the 2024 best player ‘Dum Dum’ and also adjudged the best behaved team.

The 2024 officials of Ndiowu Sports Fiesta, which lasted between 24th to 31st December, 2024, were the sponsor, Dr Joseph Onuorah universally known as Deme Deme 1 of Orumba; members of the local organising committee, including Dr Okechukwu Chukwuemeka and an INEC staff, Mr Amara Nwankwo; the referee, Ms Grace; line’s man from neighbouring Nanka community, Chukwuemeka Ezeobika and another line’s man; the DJ who also featured as a commentator, Maazi Amaechi Okeke.

Handing over the glamorous golden Cup to Ubaha FC, the football official, on behalf of Ndiowu Town Union, Dr Joseph Onuorah Foundation, the Local Organising Committee of Ndiowu Sports Fiesta, and the entire Ndiowu, praised Ubaha players, saying that Ubaha players were the best team in Ndiowu and beyond. “We present this golden Cup to Ubaha FC as the best team in Ndiowu. Not only the best team in Ndiowu but I believe they are the best team in Orumba. Not only the best team in Orumba, I believe they are the best team in Anambra,” the message read.

Most of the fans monitored online expressed their joy over the victory. “A big congratulations to us. I really appreciate all our efforts, especially those who supported our team financially and those who make out time to come to the field. This is what power of unity and love can do, this spirit of love and unity will never go down in Jesus name,” the Ubaha Youth Leader, Obinna Emenike, prayed.
Chisom Arinze, who worked in the judiciary, outlined the players that scored goals.

“Those that score the goals were Chisom Owuh (He score the first goal); followed by Winner Basil Owuh; then Captain Ifechukwu Okeke scored the 3rd one; while Olisah Ike scored the 4th goal,” she stated.

Others that lauded the footballers were son of the retired Custom Officer, Kwent Okoli; and the Estate Surveyor, Emerie Nwankwo, among others.

The Ubaha football team, the golden boys, were also given opportunity to present the trophy at Ubaha Day, an event that saw Ubaha celebrate the rich culture, craft, art, and unique qualities Ubaha as ‘Omuta Ozi’ meaning pacesetter.

The complete list of Ubaha players who dislodged their counterpart at Umudiabor, to emerge Champion were as follow: Stanley Okeke (keeper), Chibuke owuh (number 2), Chinechendu Otti (number 3), Olisah Ike (number 4), Sunday Otti (number 5), Sunday Ndukwe (number 6), Chisom Owuh (number 7), Ndukwe Nonso (number 8), Winner Owuh (number 9), Chijioke Godwin (number 10) and Ifechukwu Okeke (number 11).

Others were Onyeka Wilson Akabuogu (substitute), Chibuike Emenike (substitute), Aguora Prosper (substitute), Stanley. Mr Onyeka Okeke, a lecturer at University of Nigeria, Nsukka, coached the players. He was assisted by Victor Kelechi Owuh.

Recall that the last time Ubaha won the Champion in Ndiowu before 2024 was in 2012. After featuring in the 2023 first runner-up, the players paid courtesy visit to the South-African based indigene of Ubaha Ndiowu, Chief Uchenna Anyene, at his residence, where they gave the assurance that they would emerge Champion in 2024.