Côte d’Ivoire / Final of APEL peace tournament held in Yamoussoukro
ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire, May 27, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), under the auspices of the Local Staff Association of the UN Mission known by its French acronym, APEL, organized the final of a football tournament dubbed “The Y.J. Choi Trophy” on 22 and 23 May 2010 in Yamoussoukro. The final followed a series of eliminatory matches held in Daloa and Bouaké.
In his welcome address to the various delegations from Daloa, Bouaké and Abidjan, UNOCI’s Focal Point in Yamoussoukro, Omer Kalameu, thanked them for “rallying behind the ideals of fraternity and peace during these two days and that peace should return to this beautiful country which we love so much.”
The president of APEL, Aurelien Kouassi said: “This football tournament is an occasion for us, the national and international staff to gather around sport which is a factor of unity and peace.”
The chief of Administrative Services, Nester Odaga Jalomayo, who was representing the head of UNOCI, thanked the national staff for their contribution to the search for peace in the country. “We must keep in mind the reason why we are here: to work for the reestablishment of peace in Côte d’Ivoire. There is no winner, no loser. There is only one winner and that is peace,” he told the athletes.
The peace tournament in Yamoussoukro was an occasion for participants to engage in the various disciplines including two women’s football teams, a military team from the Integrated Command Centre, pupils and students as well as UN military contingents based in Yamoussoukro who took part in the marathon race.
The team Yamoussoukro team made up mainly of Senegalese troops came out the winner after beating the Bouake team. Abidjan and Daloa came third and fourth respectively.
Prizes were awarded to the various winners at an evening reception attended by the Prefect of Attiegouakro, Diby Konan.
SOURCE
Mission of UN in Côte d’Ivoire
