The second edition of the ‘Nye Awo Kpakpa’ community football tournament has been launched at La with 24 teams expected to vie for the bragging right.
The competing teams include La Yaoshua, Girls School, A.U Village, Caterpillar, Roman, Adjeman Parliament, Adjeman, Kaajanor, His Majesty, Cantonment, Kojo Sardine, Bulemi, Green Court, Gigolo, Burma Camp and Town Park.
Other teams including East La, Gormli, Court, Salem Park, Aviation, Kakaramadu, Ako Adjei Park and Centre, are considered traditional teams and are therefore exempted from the knockout stage.
They would face off with the eight winners from the knockout stage.
The 23-week competition kicked off at the McDan Park with Girls School thrashing La Yaoshua 3-0.
Yesterday’s fixture at the La Salem park included clashes between A.U Village versus Adjeman Parliament, Caterpillar against Adjeman, Roman versus Kaajanor, Cantonment versus Town Park, His Majesty versus Kojo Sardine, Bulemi against Gigolo and Burma Camp engages Green Court.
Opening the competition, Ms Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the La Dadekotopon area who initiated the competition, said it was to forge unity among the various communities.
“Sports has the power to bridge differences, build lasting connections and inspire each other to reach greater heights in life and also care for each other” Ms Sowah said.
The MP, who doubles as a Parliamentary Committee Member on Sports, Youth and Culture, also thanked the Turkish Ambassador, Mr Huseyin Gungor, and France Ambassador’s representative, other sponsors and guests for their support for the event.
Shetherefore indicated that each team would receive an appearance fee, a jersey and footballs, adding that the overall winner would take home a trophy and an undisclosed cash prize plus other attractive prizes for the Most Valuable Player (MVP), Goal king, Best keeper and others
BY VICTOR A. BUXTON