Eche Amos/Lafia.
Wamba has become the first Local Government Area to scoop the maiden edition of the Nasarawa State U-13 Inter-Primary School Football Championship trophy.
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To achieve the feat, the team pipped the hard-fighting Kokona Local Government Area 1-0 in an enthralling and entertaining finale held on Saturday, 27th May 2023, at the Sports Complex of Federal University, Lafia, amidst large spectators and dignitaries.
A goal-mouth scramble saw the dexterous and brave young lads from Wamba scoring against their determined opponents in the run of play through Auwal Isah in the second half and holding on to the scoreline till regulation time.
The new champions were presented with a giant trophy and rewarded with the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira(N500,000.00) cash prize. Runners-up, Kokona Local Government Area went home with the cash prize of Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira(N350,000.00).
In the 3rd-place play-off, Lafia Local Government Area defeated Kefffi Local Government Area by a lone goal and was rewarded with the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Naira(N200,000.00) while 4th-placed Keffi got One Hundred Thousand Naira(N100,000.00) as prize money.
In the Fair Play award, Karu Local Government Area received the sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira(N100,000.00).
For his stellar performance, sensational Kyuni Solomon from Kokona Local Government Area was voted Most Valuable Player of the tournament and got rewarded with a plague and Thirty Thousand Naira(N30,000.00) cash prize. Also, Michael Nicholas from Kokona won the Golden Boot award after netting four goals in the competition and was rewarded with the sum of Thirty Thousand Naira(N30,000.00).
Hassan Shuaibu from Wamba Local Government Area received a pair of Hand gloves and the sum of Thirty Thousand Naira(N30,000.00) as prize money for emerging Best Goalkeeper of the Championship.
Additionally, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Nasarawa State, announced cash donations to three of the best teams at the Championship.
Chairman of the Party, Hon. John Mamman, presented the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Naira(N200,000.00) as prize money to the winners of the competition, Wamba Local Government Area; One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira(N150,000.00) to runners-up, Kokona Local Government Area, and One Hundred Thousand Naira(N100,000.00) to bronze-winning Lafia Local Government Area, Nasarawa State respectively.
In his remarks, Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe, congratulated the maiden winners of the competition and all the participating teams for making the event live up to expectations.
“On behalf of my principal, I wish to heartily congratulate the winners of this very important competition.
“I also congratulate all the participating teams for being at their best and showing the spirit of competition and enthusiasm.
“All over the world, we all know that football is a huge business, and there’s no better way to start than we have witnessed today.
“No doubts, raw talents abound in our State who can become the very best anywhere in the world.”
He applauded the sponsor of the Championship and founder of the Aliyu Bello Charity Foundation, Hon. Aliyu Bello, for birthing the initiative of the competition and making it a reality, stating that the Government, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, would ensure that the competition is made an annual event to aid early discovery of hidden potentials from the grassroots for a podium appearance.
“I wish to categorically say that, henceforth, the Government will ensure that this competition is held every year in the State.
“I hereby direct the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to work directly with the Organizers of the Championship to select the best five players from each Local Government Area to form the State’s U-13 Football Team.
“As a Government, we will ensure a level-playing field for the formation of a Football Academy by the Aliyu Bello Charity Foundation to discover and nurture talents.
“We will support this Academy, both as a Government and individually.”
Earlier, sponsor of the Championship and Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Nasarawa State, Hon. Aliyu Bello, explained that the competition which was to celebrate this year’s International Children’s Day and Swearing-in/Inauguration for 2nd term in office of Governor Abdullahi Sule on May 29th was organized to unearth hidden football potentials across the State and ensure their development to global superstars through his NGO.
He noted that his organization would engage the Government and other related Organizations around the globe, including top-flight football clubs in Europe, to come down to Nasarawa State to discover talents and invest in the sports industry.
Aliyu Bello appreciated the Government and other partners for supporting the success of the Championship.
He equally thanked the Organizing Committee Members headed by Comrade Danmusa Mohammed from the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, for galvanizing their experiences into making the event a success.
Eleven Local Government Areas, including Akwanga, Awe, Doma, Karu, Keana, Keffi, Kokona, Obi, Lafia, Nasarawa-Eggon, and Wamba participated in the championship that started on Monday, 22nd May 2023, with Nasarawa and Toto the only Local Government Areas who could not partake in the competition.
Among dignitaries present at the closing ceremony of the tournament was the former Governor of Nasarawa State, Dist. Sen. Umar Tanko Al-Makura; former Nigerian Ambassador to Sweden, His Excellency, Musa Illu; Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State, Barr. Aliyu Ubandoma; Senator-elect, Ahmed Aliyu Wadada; Head of Service of Nasarawa State, Mrs. Abigail Waya; former SSG, Nasarawa State, Mr. Timothy Anjide; representative of the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia, Professor Idris Amale; Permanent Secretary, Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Isah Mohammed Eyah.
Others were Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Nasarawa State Chapter, Hon. John Mamman; former Governorship candidate, Dr. Yusuf Agabi; former INEC Commissioner, Yahaya Bello; Prof. Mainoma; Chairman, Lafia Local Government Area and Chairman, ALGON, Hon. Aminu Muazu Maifata; former Commissioners for Youth and Sports Development, Amb. Lucky Isaac Yargwa and Hon. Othman Bala Adam; former Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Aisha Rufai; Executive Chairman, Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board, NSUBEB, Alh. Musa Dan’Azumi; former Aide to the Governor of Nasarawa State on Youth Affairs, Rt. Hon. Shuaibu Sani; General Manager, Nasarawa Broadcasting Service, NBS, Mr. Aloko Flashman; Chairman, Nasarawa State Football Association, Alh. Alkali Mohammed; General Manager, NAYES, Abdullahi Labaran Maina; and Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Comr. Jaafar Loko.
Presentation of Medals to the first four best teams at the championship and issuance of certificates of participation to the players and their coaches at a special dinner held at the Ta’al Conference Hotel formed parts of the highlights of the Championship.
