EHIBAM HOST FIRST SCHOOLS RUGBY TOURNAMENT IN EDO STATE

The Ehibam Griefshare Foundation which launched the Ehibam Schools Rugby program last year has made good its promise to institute an annual schools rugby tournament in Edo State.

The first edition of the championship is billed for next week Friday at Idia College in Benin City from 10am to 4pm.

According to the Coordinator and Head Coach of Edo State Rugby Ntiense Williams, “the first edition of the Ehibam Schools Rugby Tournament will feature eight Schools from the 14 presently participating in the Edo State Schools program.

They are divided into two categories of four boys and four girls teams. They are Edo Boys High School, Asoro Grammar School, Iyokogba Grammar School, and Iyogbe College in the boys category.

In the girls category are Emotan College, Idia College, Iyogbe College and St Mariah Goretti Secondary School.

According to Williams, “Ehibam Griefshare Foundation has decided to partner in the development of rugby in Nigeria and Edo State in particular by sponsoring schools tournaments and special prizes to young rugby players across the country when ever opportune.”

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 neighborhood!”

Said Pastor Dupe as she is fondly called, “The Foundation which is involved in assisting grieving family overcome their trying time has decided to give back to society through Ehi’s love – “Rugby” and in his home town of Edo State.

“Ehi would have been 40 years this year. We belief that with the institution of a Schools Rugby program which was his ‘love’ posthumously we will keep his memory alive in our hearts and benefit the game and kids he loved so much

“We will be celebrating his 40th posthumous birthday with two activities in Edo and Lagos State respectively.

“We will also like to use this opportunity to formally congratulate our Edo State girls rugby team who made us proud by winning the Gold Medal at the recently concluded National Youth Games at Ilorin which Ehibam graciously played its modest role by donating two giant trophies to encourage discipline in Rugby for both the male and female categories.

“We will like to sincerely thank the Edo State Sports Commission led by Godwin Dudu Orumen and the Edo State Rugby Association led by Frank Evbuomwan for graciously partnering with us on this auspicious project of developing the beautiful game of Rugby in Edo State.”