By Sports Recorder
The Akwa Ibom State Football Association (AKSFA) held the draws ceremony and press briefing for the second edition of the Obong Isong Isang Memorial Academies Championship at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, on Saturday, 25th October 2025.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Football Association, Mr. Samuel Umoh, said the championship aims not only to honour the memory of the late football icon, Obong Isong Isang, but also to discover young football talents across the state.
He announced that the 2025 edition will feature six academies who will “serve good football” throughout the competition. According to him, the tournament will be played by U17 players, with the FA’s Technical Committee conducting strict screening to ensure eligibility and fairness.
In a major highlight, Mr. Umoh revealed that the prize money for the competition has been increased to further motivate participants. The winners will now receive ₦500,000, while the second and third-placed teams will receive ₦300,000 and ₦150,000 respectively.
The six participating teams are Pillars Investors, NNS Jubilee, Blackpool Academy, Indomitable Strikers, Dynamic SMD, and Blessed Stars Academy.
This year’s competition will adopt a league format, with all six teams facing each other before the top four advance to the semi-finals.
Speaking at the event, the wife of the late Obong Isong Isang expressed her appreciation to the Akwa Ibom State Football Association for sustaining and improving the standard of the tournament. She pledged continued support for the initiative, describing it as a good platform to promote both football and education among young people.
During the press session, journalists asked questions which were addressed by the AKSFA Chairman, Mr. Samuel Umoh; the Vice Chairman, Mr. Raymond Essien, who also serves as Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC); and other officials of the association.
The draws produced exciting opening day fixtures: Pillars Investors vs NNS Jubilee, Blackpool FA vs Indomitable Strikers, and Dynamic SMD vs Blessed Stars Academy. The tournament will kickoff on October 29, 2025. League stage and Semi-Final matches will take place at the Uyo Township Stadium.
The third-place match and final will be played at the Ikot Ekpene Stadium on 14th November 2025, in a symbolic ceremony marking the hometown of the late Obong Isong Isang.
The event was attended by AKSFA Board Members, members of the family of the late Obong Isong Isang, former chairmen and secretaries of the Akwa Ibom State Football Association, members of the press, and representatives of the participating teams.
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