By Udeme Hosea

The highly anticipated Comfort FM Neighborhood Football Fiesta is set to electrify the grassroots football scene in Akwa Ibom state, as the renowned radio station is gearing up to host the maiden edition of the tournament which aims to foster unity among youths and unearth hidden football talents in the state.

Speaking at a press briefing yesterday in Uyo, the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), Mr. George Iniabasi Essien revealed that the tournament is open to non-professional footballers of all ages and will run from October to December 2025.

Mr Essien who announced commencement of registration for interested teams with a fee of N20,000 per team, hinted that, the tournament has garnered support from key stakeholders, including the Akwa Ibom State Football Association (FA) and the Sport Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN).

The LOC Chairman while calling for partnership in  the football fiesta that is sponsored by Comfort FM, assured participating teams of strict security compliance. He affirmed attractive prizes for winners ranging from N1 million for the first runner-up, N750,000 for the second runner-up  and N500,000 for the third-place team

Also speaking, the Executive Management Consultant of Comfort FM, Mr. Sam Akpan, explained that the Neighborhood Football Fiesta will provide a platform for young footballers to showcase their skills and potentially get discovered by top clubs and promote grassroots football development.