Nung Oku Itina Football Association football festival has kicked off with Ikot Mbong as the host.
The yearly football festival is competed among the six villages of Nung Oku Itina Group in ONNA Local Government Area.
The villages are Nung Oku Ekanem, Ikot Mbong, Ikot Akpan Nko, Ikot Udo Essang, Ikot Obio Eket and Atiamkpat.
The tournament which is hosted Nung Oku Itina Community Secondary School, Ikot Mbong, ONNA Local Government Area was won by Ikot Udo Essang football team last year.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chairman of the Occasion, Apostle Kufre Essiet, applauded NOIFA for its consistency in the last forty years of the competition.
He charged organisers of the competition to ensure that players discovered during the month long football festival progress beyond the community league to the national and international league.
Apostle Kufre Essiet who is Chief Executive officer of NDIKUFF Nigeria Limited, called on the youths to shun violence and live a responsible life to be recognized in the community.
While pledging his support to NOIFA, Apostle Kufre Essiet also called on well meaning members of Nung Oku Itina Group to sponsor youths in meaningful ventures that will better their lives.
Earlier, the President of NOIFA, Engr. Nsikan Ishmael Umoren, appreciated the host community of Ikot Mbong and the management of the school for the hospitable warm welcome.
He called on participating teams to be law abiding and play the game according to the rules as no community will escape sanctions for unruly behavior during the competition.
In the opening ceremony, the host, Ikot Mbong football team defeated Ikot Udo Essang, the Defending Champions 1-0.
The opening ceremony was witnessed by the Clan Head of Asuna Nung Oku, His Royal Highness, Etebom Christopher Itiat, Village Heads of Ikot Mbong and Atiamkpat, Eteidung Akpan Peter Udo, and Eteidung Udo Victor Attat, respectively.
Other attendees were the Village Head of Nung Oku Ekanem, Eteidung Ntiense S. J. Nda, PDP Ward Chairman, Awa Ward 6, Mr. Umoh Umoh, Mr. Itiat Christopher Itiat, Bishop Ishmael Umoren, former President of NOIFA, Mr. Aniekan Umana, Chief Security Officer of NOIFA, Pastor Charles William, former Organizing Secretary of NOIFA, Mr. James Prince Akpadiaha amongst others.
