UMUNNOKE AND ISIOKWE DREAM LINE-UPS COMPARED AFTER MAJOR SIGNINGS.
Isiokwe has made the team-record addition of 5 players including Ibesi, Ide Aguleri's elder brother, as they look to wrestle back the Ijenoke League crown.
Umunnoke and Isiokwe remained the best two teams in the community for 5 seasons by some distance.
The pair battled it out once again for the Ijenoke League title and have added to their squads in the off season. It means they could well be even more relentless, which is a daunting prospect for IG Aniegboke's Owelolie and Okpu Okeosisi teams who are trying to close the gap, when 2023-24 gets underway.
Both Isiokwe Agamebu and Umunnoke Oruba teams have been calculative in the transfer market in recent years, with very few of their signings failing to deliver.
They've also been able to add one or two players per year, rather than having to spend huge sums on several players to overhaul the starting 11 - which is always a risky strategy and can often backfire.
Amerulu boys were also busy throughout yesterday signing a lot of foreign based players including the popular Keluo Germany. Amerulu was once the champion of Ivite Aguleri and are known for parading the youngest players in the annual tournament.
Abor and Umuawunu are yet to make any significant signing but Chief Amechi Obidike and Latimoore Okechi have just written in OIF platform that Umuawunu would no longer be a push over in the competition. In a short note delivered by Chief Enyi, he says,
"Aluta General !
I hear you very loudly & clear ! Umuawunu still has all the potentials to show the lead & shall do so !"
In Okpu, George Udedibia has been under pressure when it was rumoured that coach Obi Winter may resign as the Head coach of the team. The rumour was not actually confirmed at the time of filling this report. But another big motivator, Mr Fide Ibem has been quiet about signing new players, which is posing a serious threat to Okeosisi team.
However,the arrival of special Ijele Anekwe Nwa Anekwe is a boost to the team.
In a related development, Chief Emmanuel Chikeluo Okechukwu has boasted that his Owelolie team will parade more than 5 Ijeles this season. Sam Nwabekwu led Owelolie is the most united team in the history of the competition. They have been very consistent in their 3rd position, although Abor once snatched it from them. Owelolie may not have the financial muscle to move higher than 3rd position.