By Patrick Titus, Uyo
Six football clubs have lined up to compete in the 2nd edition of Obong Isong Isang Memorial Academies football championship 2025, organized by the Akwa Ibom State Football Association (AKSFA).
The competition billed to commence from October 29, 2025 at two centres, Uyo Township Stadium and Ikot Ekpene Stadium both in Akwa Ibom State, will have the first runner-up team smiling home with enticing prize.
Organised as legacy of a football icon, late Obong Isong Isang, the tournament is grassroots football event in the state. This vision is to fish out budding football stars, create platform and sustain it for the discovered talents to grow to stardom in their career in both football and academics.
Speaking at the weekend during the draws held at the Conferences Room of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Chairman of the AKSFA, Mr. Samuel Umoh said the second edition of the championship would be limited to players under 17 years of age.
“Obong Isong Isang, our football icon, had always dreamt of encouraging grassroots sports through talent haunt, create platform and sustain it for young talents to thrive but for the unfortunate incident of death that took him away.
“As AKSFA, we will do everything possible to ensure that this competition produces players, nurture them with a platform that will expose them to both local and international championships.
“Late Isong Isang’s family has been very supportive to ensure that we achieve the desired results. Our prayer therefore is asking for support and cooperation from every spirited individuals and public to ease us in keeping the flag flying.
“The first edition was good but we want to make it better this year, having corrected mistakes of the previous edition. We will limit it to under 17 because we want to create a team for AKSFA and sustain it for both local and international championships,” Mr. Umoh said.
Commenting on the draws, the chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), Coach Raymond Essien, who is also the Vice Chairman of AKSFA, said six teams will play preliminaries to produce 3rd place and finals.
He added that the 1st place winner will receive N500.000.00, 2nd, N300,000.00 while 3rd will grab 150,000.00 with other consolation prizes to other participating teams.
In her remarks, wife of the legendary icon, Lady Ime Isong Isang Esq. expressed happiness at the love and care extended to the family by the football community in the state.
She noted that AKSFA’s determination and zeal to keep the flag of supporting grassroots sports development which her late husband envisaged and stood for is a commendable effort, that the family won’t take for granted. She pledged the family’s support for tournament to ensure success.
Meanwhile, the participating teams are: Blackpool Football Academy, Indomitable Strikers Football Academy, Dynamic SPMD Academy, Blessed Stars Football Academy, NNL Jubilee Football Academy, and Pillars Investors Football Academy.
Late Isong Isang was a football administrator and player. He managed Akwa Utd FC from 2007 to 2015. As a player in his days, he played for Kofine FC and Calabar Rovers FC.
He had served in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly as member representing Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara State Constituency.
He passed away in December 2022. His legacy is honoured through the Obong Isong Isang Memorial Academies Championship, a grassroots football tournament in the state.
