Former Senior Special assistant on National Assembly
Matters, Senator Ita Enang has reemphasize the importance of age group
football, which according to him remains the platform for young and emerging
footballs to showcase their talents.
Senator Enang said this while declaring the much
anticipated 10th Senate President U-18 Boys Unity Cup, at the Old Parade Cup in
Abuja on Sunday.
Stressing the importance of the competition to the
Senate President and other members of the National Assembly, the one time
Senior Special Assistant on Niger Delta Affairs who is the Chairman of the Main
Organizing Committee of the competition, noted that plans were in top gear to
make the tournament an unforgettable one.
He congratulated the teams for featuring in the
competition, urging the players and officials to embrace sportsmanship, as
every team is already a winner, adding that members of the National Assembly
from the states of the participating teams, will be present throughout the
tournament.
“This is where talents are made so the Senate will not
be different in joining the search for great talents, am sure you know many
Nigerians are proud of football, so this is what the Senate is planning to do,
taking advantage of the desire by Nigerians to be the best in football.”
“So the Senate is saying while wor.for the development
of the country, infrastructure, finance, we should also work for the
development of the children and individuals.”
Member representing Birnin Kebbi, Kalgo and Bunza
Federal Constituency at the Green Chambers, Hon. Ibrahim Mohammed Bello, on his
part, described football as a source of unity, calling on all teams to be
friendly to each other whether in loss or in victory.
“Football as you know is the sport that imbibes the
spirit of unity, the spirit of togetherness, the spirit of growth and progress,
that is what the Nigeria of today stands for and what the Nigeria of tomorrow
needs. I encourage all teams to play well and may the best win.”
The curtain raiser was Young Stars of Ikot Ekpene,
Akwa Ibom state, beat Kebbi selected of Kebbi state one goal to nil, courtesy
of Bakare Omobowale’s first half strike.
From the blast of the whistle both teams tried to size
themselves, but it was the young lads from Kebbi that created scoring chances
but could not utilize it. However, the Orange Boys picked up during the game
and muscled their way until they found the back of the net, which later became
the match winner.
Tournament Coordinator, Hon. John Ekpeyoung, in his
welcome remarks acknowledged the impact and support of the Senate President,
Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio GCON, for his penchant for sports development.
He added that the competition been a source of
inspiration and blessings to talented youths over the years, some of which are
currently plying their trade both in the domestic leagues and foreign leagues
across the world.
The victory place the Young Stars of Akwa Ibom on top
of Group A with three points, Goni FC of Yobe is second with zero point and
Kebbi Selected (Kaura Boys) with zero point.
Thirteen teams are participating in the 10th Senate
President U-18 Boys Unity Cup. They include Young Stars FC, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa
Ibom state, Ogboinbiri FC, Bayelsa state representing the South South zone,
Agbana Wonderful FC Ekiti state and Great Olympics Football Club, Lagos state
for the South West zone, Kaduna United Dream Team and Kebbi Selected (Kaura
Boys) of the North West zone, and Greatness Sporting Club, Ebonyi state,
alongside Adoration FC Enugu – representing the South East zone.
Others are Sabo Fegi FC Damaturu, Yobe, and Qatar
Football Academy, Bomo for North East zone, while Tarka youth stars, Benue,
Tanko Baba Football Academy Nasarawa state, and Kifa Academy, Abuja, will
represent the North Central zone.
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