The much talked about first Ehibam School’s Rugby Tournament took place on Friday 29 November 2019 at Idia College amidst pomp and pageantry.
EMOTAN College beat their arc rivals and host Idia College by 10 points to 5 points in a crunchy encounter to win the girls category of the Tournament and carted away the gold medals and the giant floating trophy.
New entrant Iyokogba Grammar Schools, surprised everyone when they defeated hard fighting Ihogbe College by 20 points to 10 points in the battle of the titans to win the boys category of the championship and also walked away with their gold medals and the converted giant floating trophy.
Meanwhile, Miss Becky Odiri Smart popularly known as “Crayfish” of Idia College and Master Arebamhen Cornelius nicknamed “Pensioner” of Iyokogba Grammar School were adjudges the Most Valuable Players for the girls and boys respectively and were rewarded with a beautifully customised miniature trophy.
The colourful event which was full of entertaining display of beautiful running and crunchy tackles rugby was a cynosure of all eyes in and around the School vicinity especially with the melodious sounds from the DJ Stumps!
According to Ehibam Griefshere Foundation the sponsors of the championship which was launched last year in Edo State,
According to the founder of the Foundation Pastor Dupe Irele, “The Ehibam Griefshare Foundation was set up three years ago in memory of my beloved son Ehisieme Osarieme Ehi Alonge who passed on at a tender age of 35years in England on his way to work. He was a diehard Rugby player and Coach especially for his local Rugby Team and the kids of his neighbourhood!”
Said Pastor Dupe who could not be physically present at the event due to the fact that the Foundation is also organising another celebration in Lagos on the same weekend to mark his 40th posthumous birthday, but was ably represented by Dr Sunny Amafua who is also a diehard grassroots sports mobilizer reiterated the fact that the Foundation which is involved in assisting grieving family to overcome their trying time has decided to give back to society through Ehi’s love – “Rugby” and in his home town of Edo State.
The Foundation used the opportunity to specially and formally congratulate our Edo State Girls Rugby team who did us proud by winning the Gold Medal at the recently concluded National Youth Games at Ilorin which Ehibam Griefshare Foundation graciously played its modest role by donating two giant trophies for the most disciplined teams in Rugby for both the male and female categories.
Meanwhile, Imaguero College defeated St Mariah Gorroti Secondary School by 5points to nil to win the third place and the bronze medals in the girl’s category, whilst Edo Boys defeated Asoro Grammar School by 20 points to nil to win the boys third-place match and the bronze medals.
The Edo State Sports Commission through the Rugby Association thanks the Ehibam Griefshare Foundation for helping in the development of Sports and Rugby in particular with Edo State being the pioneer for this championship sponsorship.
According to the coordinator of the event, Mr Ntiense Williams who is the Head Coach of the Edo State Rugby Association, “Eight Secondary Schools were selected for this first edition of the Ehibam Schools Rugby Tournament namely:
Boys
1. Edo Boys High School, 2. Asoro Grammer School, 3. Iyokogba Grammar School, and 4. Iyogbe College
Girls
1. Emotan College, 2. Idia College, 3. Imaguero College and 4. St Mariah Goretti Secondary
Said he, “The standard of play was very high especially as the students tried to impress their Coaches for future selection into the State Rugby Team for the next National Youth Games and possibly for the forthcoming 20th National Sports Festival which Edo State as host has graciously included Rugby as an optional sports after ten good years of its absence from the sporting fiesta!”
