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Jonam Defeats Okoro to Secure Place in Kopu P’Ubimo Final
Pakwach – Jonam County clinched their spot in the final of the MTN Kopu P’Ubimo tournament with a narrow 1-0 victory over Okoro County on Saturday, 5th October 2024. The match, played at Pacego Playground in Panyango Sub County, Pakwach district, was the second leg of their semi-final clash, confirming Jonam’s march to the final set for 19th October.
The game was closely contested, but Jonam’s persistence paid off with the only goal of the match, sealing their place in the final showdown. Jonam’s head coach, Simon Peter, reflected on his team’s earlier success, stating that their 2-0 away win in the first leg against Okoro, with Samuel Pirwoth scoring twice, gave them the confidence and momentum to secure the overall victory.
Simon praised his squad’s morale, especially after a 1-1 draw against defending champions Padyere County in their previous fixture. “That draw energized the players, and it showed in our determination to claim all three points today by beating Okoro. We are not scared of any threats when playing the champions Padyere in our last rounds,” he said.
Okoro County, on the other hand, struggled throughout the tournament, finishing their campaign without a goal. Head coach Kelvin Wanok, though disappointed with the results, congratulated his players for their commitment. “We haven’t observed any form of indiscipline, and I’m optimistic next time will be better. We all subscribe to Alur culture, and that keeps us united,” Wanok said.
Other Weekend Highlights
Apart from the football, the 3rd edition of the much-anticipated bicycle races took place in Jonam County on 5th October. Thirty-three participants, both male and female, competed in a 10-kilometre ride, with prizes awarded to the top finishers.
In the women’s race, Agnes Acibu took first place, earning a cash prize of UGX 500,000. Second-place finisher Lilian Aciu received UGX 200,000, while Sunday Adokorach came in third, pocketing UGX 100,000. Among the men, Stephen Kumakech won the top prize of UGX 500,000, with Justine Opakrwoth and Anthony Kumakech taking home UGX 200,000 and UGX 100,000, respectively.
The Executive Director of Ker Alur, Vincent Ochaya, commended MTN Uganda for their role in promoting youth involvement in sports and cultural activities, noting how the tournament has fostered a sense of unity. He also confirmed that all participants would be recognized during the upcoming 14th coronation anniversary of Phillips Ularker Rauni III, scheduled for 26th October 2024.
Kopu P’Ubimo Table Standings:
| Position | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Jonam | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| 2 | Padyere | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 3 | Okoro | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 |
Jonam’s next challenge will be a tough final match against Padyere County, the reigning champions, while Okoro will look to regroup and come back stronger in future editions of the tournament.