King Amachree Sports Academy (KASA) in Obuama has been crowned winners of the Samuel Okwaraji Under-16 Football Tournament, finishing the job with a 1-0 victory over St. Peter’s Secondary School in a tense final at Port Harcourt. The team, backed by sponsors including Da Amakiri Tubo, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari, Amanyanabo of The Source, Elem Kalabari and Torusarama Piri, lifted the title in style after a tightly contested contest.
The decisive moment arrived through Michael Unity, who converted when it mattered most to secure a narrow but richly deserved triumph for the KASA side and seal their position as champions of one of Rivers State’s most respected youth football events.
Before reaching the final, the Obuama academy made a statement with a strong showing against Perfect Brain Secondary School, winning 3-1 to earn a spot in the championship match. Across the tournament, KASA demonstrated tactical organisation, effective teamwork and the kind of resilience that has come to define the academy’s approach to youth football.
The Samuel Okwaraji Under-16 Football Tournament is staged in memory of the late Nigerian international Samuel Okwaraji. Okwaraji tragically collapsed and later died while playing for the Super Eagles during a FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos. The competition today stands as a lasting tribute to his patriotism and dedication to Nigerian football, while also serving as a pathway for identifying the next generation of stars.
For King Amachree Sports Academy, the latest title adds to a growing list of achievements that underline a steady rise in Nigerian school sports.
Not long ago, the academy’s basketball programme also captured national attention by winning the 26th Nestlé MILO Secondary Schools Basketball Championship. In that tournament, KASA beat defending champions Father O’Connell Science College in Minna to claim the top prize after multiple near-misses in previous years, having ended up first and second runners-up on four earlier occasions. The breakthrough success was rewarded with ₦1 million.
“Winning national honours in basketball and now emerging champions in football within the same period is no coincidence. Rather, it reflects the deliberate vision of the Academy’s Proprietor, Da Amakiri Tubo, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari, whose commitment to youth development through education and sports continues to transform lives.”
Commenting on the football success, the Amanyanabo said he was thrilled by the outcome, describing it as confirmation of the significant effort and resources channelled into building the academy.
“This victory gladdens my heart. It justifies the enormous investment I have made in the school. These young boys have shown that, with the right environment, discipline and encouragement, they can compete with the very best. Their success inspires me to do even more to uplift our youth. I congratulate the players, the coaching crew and everyone who has contributed to this remarkable achievement.”
Dokubo-Asari indicated that the academy intends for these triumphs to become part of a lasting standard of excellence rather than isolated moments. As part of that push, he approved a major five-year strategic partnership linking King Amachree Sports Academy with EEXSport Digital Company Limited.
The agreement places the academy’s next stage of development under the guidance of Emeka Enyadike, a widely respected sports professional. Enyadike is recognised as a sports broadcaster, football analyst, publisher, club administrator, sports marketing specialist and international sports consultant.
With a career stretching for more than three decades, Enyadike has developed a reputation as one of Africa’s leading voices on sports enterprise and athlete development. Through EEXSport, he has helped build strategic connections across sports management, sponsorship, media, commercial expansion and international player pathways, earning trust from sports organisations throughout Nigeria.
Under the five-year transformation plan, EEXSport will deliver technical management, sports science support, educational strengthening, commercial development, sponsorship sourcing and international partnerships. The programme is also set to introduce global best practices across all areas of the academy’s operations.
A major element of the deal is the establishment of an International Athlete Pathways Programme. The initiative is designed to spot standout talent within KASA and open doors for participation in international showcases, European training camps, scholarship options and potential professional club opportunities.
Alongside football, the academy will expand its work in basketball, athletics, swimming, volleyball, handball and tennis. Leadership development, digital competence and academic advancement will also be integrated through the academy’s “Play, Study and Progress” philosophy.
For Da Amakiri Tubo, the ambition reaches beyond trophies. His goal is to build one of Africa’s leading institutions blending sports and education—an academy where talented young Nigerians can gain a strong academic foundation, develop their sporting skills and perform with confidence on the world stage.
Recent wins in both the MILO National Basketball Championship and the Samuel Okwaraji Under-16 Football Tournament suggest that the vision is already moving from plan to reality. With the EEXSport partnership now secured, King Amachree Sports Academy appears set to progress from producing domestic champions to developing athletes capable of competing internationally.
