The Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) is set to mark this year's United Nations' International Day of Tolerance on November 16 with a novelty football match to flag-off the 2024 edition of the Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup tournament, that is sponsored by CEPEJ in collaboration with the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), K&Q Food Palace and the DPG Group among others.

This was disclosed by the National Coordinator of CEPEJ, Chief Sheriff Mulade, during a press briefing after meeting with members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the tournament at its Africa 4 Peace Center, Ugolo in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State on Thursday, November 14, 2024.

Chief Mulade further disclosed that the novelty football match to kickstart the tournament, which will be played at Ode Itsekiri, also known as Big Warri, will feature the six ethnic nationalities of the state, grouped into two teams, with Ijaw and Itsekiri producing one team, while Ndokwa, Isoko, Ika and Urhobo will produce another team.

He said, "This tournament is expected, by the grace of God, to kick-off on Saturday, which is on the 16th of November, to mark the International Day of Tolerance. These are the LOC members representing the six ethnic groups that are participating in the 2024 edition, which is the fifth edition of this tournament.

"The opening ceremony will take place at Ode Itsekiri, popularly known as Big Warri, in Warri South-West LGA at the FIFA pitch, specifically built by our respected and renowned sports expert, Amaju Pinnick

"The opening ceremony is fixed for 12 noon; it is a novelty match and the composition of the team for the novelty match is Ijaw and Itsekiri are to produce a team; while Ika, Isoko, Urhobo and Ndokwa, will produce another team to play the novelty match. 

"The essence of it is to promote the peaceful coexistence and to play for unity; that's why you see that we are all coming together to form a team," Chief Mulade explained.

Throwing more light on the tournament fixtures, he said, "Thereafter, on the 17th November, which is our Sunday, there will be various group matches at the various centres for the six ethnic group.

"The Ijaw's will play their match in Patani on Sunday and Ogbe-Ijoh, the second matches, while the Ndokwa's will play their march at Kwale Township Stadium and Obiaruku. The Isokos will play their march at Isoko Township Stadium. The Uhrobo's will play their match at Modern Primary School at Agbaro field, while the Ika's will play at Agbor Township Stadium, Agbor. The Itsekiri's will play at Nana Modern Secondary School field at Nana College. These are the locations where these matches will start from on the 17th.

"And by the grace of God, this tournament will run till on the 8th of December, which is on Sunday, that's where we will have the grand finale of the finals that we play at Oreorokpe in Okpe LGA of Delta State.

"And thereafter, we intend to have the reception for all the tournament participants and other dignitaries at our newly opened sports arena in the Africa 4 Peace Center. So we're going to have the reception here," he added.

The National Coordinator called on all Deltans and lovers of sports to show their support by attending the fifth edition of the tournament.

"Therefore, we are using this opportunity to invite all sons and daughters of Delta State and residents of the state to grace the occasion, to show your support, your solidarity for the tournament."

Also speaking during the press briefing, the LOC chairman, Hon. Kenneth Nwaomucha, while thanking the sponsors (CEPEJ and DESOPADEC) for creating opportunity for youths to showcase their talents, disclosed that three ex-internationals of Delta State origin, whose identities he refused to disclose, will be in attendance during the tournament.

He also used the medium to condole with the families over the deaths of former under 20 football player in Warri Wolves and Bayelsa United, Gift Atulewa, and the Head Coach, Tech Board in Delta State, Coach Kennedy Akpovena, who is also a coach of FC Planners, praying for their souls to rest peacefully.

Recall that 24 participating football teams drawn from the six ethnic nationalities of the state will be competing for the prize money of N5 million in the competition that is formerly known as the Ijaw/Itsekiri Peace and Unity Football Tournament.

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