By Tonye Orabere, Port Harcourt
Registration has opened for participation in the Keves Global football competition in Rivers State, and the deadline for submission of entries will be Wednesday, 16th July 2026.
Speaking in a media briefing at the Rivers State Football Association (RSFA) office, NUJ Moscow Road premises on Thursday in Port Harcourt, the sponsor of the competition, Chief Ikenna Okafor, said sponsoring sports competitions was part of the company’s social responsibilities.
Chief Okafor, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Keves Global Leasing Limited, said one of the priorities of the company is building human capacity development.
According to Chief Okafor, who was represented by the company’s head of Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (QHSSE), Donald Elijah, said in this fourth edition, the prize has increased to a total record of N7 million for the amateur and All-Stars categories, excluding the individual prizes.
He stated that sponsoring sporting competitions and tournaments like football, swimming, golf, tennis, and table tennis was with the view to take youths away from the streets and catch them young.
“One of the ways we are taking youths from the streets and empowering them is through sports, not only football but also other sports. This is not the first edition; it is the fourth edition of this championship.
“So the company loves sports so much; we see sports as one of the key social responsibilities of bringing people together.
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“We sponsored golf tournaments that brought over 14 international sportsmen from within and outside Africa. We equally sponsored swimming classics, tennis, and table tennis.
“We are here this year to have a better football championship so that at the end of the competition, we are going to have the Ronaldos and Messis.
“This is an investment aimed at youth development and strengthening the sports ecosystem in Rivers State,” Chief Okafor said.
Also speaking, the vice chairman of the Rivers State Football Association (RSFA), Akubo Benjamin, said that he has received assurance from Chief Ikenna Okafor that the Keves Global Football Competition will be staged annually.
He explained that the funding of the competition has grown steadily since its inception, adding that the total prize has risen from ₦3.5 million in 2022 to ₦7 million in 2026, making it a 100% increase over three editions.
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“In the amateur clubs category, the winners will go home with ₦2,000,000, the 1st runner-up with ₦1,400,000, and the 2nd runner-up with ₦1,000,000.
Meanwhile, in the All Stars category, the winner will receive ₦1,000,000, the second position ₦600,000, and the third position will receive ₦400,000.
Also, there will be individual awards to outstanding players in different categories during the tournament.
A total of 32 clubs will compete in the amateur clubs category, while eight teams will feature in the All-Stars category.
“And the venue of the competition will be Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt,” Benjamin said.
