– By Ike Philip Abiagom
The people of Igbuzo have continued to mourn the painful loss of one of their illustrious sons, Bishop Clarence Okonkwo of Umueze, who was reportedly murdered in his residence, throwing the community into deep shock and sorrow.
In honour of the late Bishop, the Obi Nwaokocha Okeze Foundation announced the postponement of this year’s Children’s Day celebration as a mark of respect to the departed cleric whose death has left many devastated.
According to the Foundation, although all arrangements had been concluded for the annual Children’s Day festivities, the tragic incident compelled organizers to scale down activities in solidarity with the bereaved family and the entire community.
However, the football tournament which commenced before the unfortunate incident will officially come to an end tomorrow with what promises to be an explosive final encounter between Omu Boys Secondary School and Trinity College.
The much-anticipated final match will take place at the playground of St. Thomas College by 3pm.
Football lovers and residents are already expressing excitement ahead of the clash, especially as this marks the first time a private school has advanced to the finals of the competition.
In a surprising twist, defending champions St. Thomas College narrowly lost their semi-final tie to Trinity College, paving the way for a new champion to emerge this year.
Community members have described the tournament as a unifying event for youths despite the prevailing mood of mourning across the kingdom.
Dr Pat Adigwe,the Coordinator, noted that while the Children’s Day celebration was cancelled out of respect for the late Bishop Clarence Okonkwo, the football competition had already progressed significantly before his death, making it necessary to conclude the tournament in a modest and low-key manner.
As anticipation builds ahead of the final showdown, residents are eagerly asking: Who will lift the giant trophy this year? The general public has been invited to witness the grand finale tomorrow at the St. Thomas College playground by 3pm.