The competition had to a large extent helped in strengthening the peace, love and unity existing among the village of the Ahuwa community, encouraged character development/discipline as well as enhancing the capacity of the youths and creating an enabling environment for talent discoveries.
Additionally, we anticipate that in the course of this finals being played today, that sports directors and football team managers present will utilise the opportunity to scout for potentials/talents who will promote and defend our nation’s integrity tomorrow.
Furthermore, this competition hopes to address the issue of economic disempowerment of wider sections of the citizenry as a potent cause of violence and youth restiveness in the community through the engagement of the youths in activities like this. I have however, provided the prizes for the winners of the competition as follows: 1st position – four hundred thousand Naira, 2nd position – Three hundred thousand Naira and 3rd position – two hundred thousand Naira.
At the conclusion of the preliminaries, the competition progressed to the semi final stage where: Umusom fc drew 0-0 with umuhuru fc after regulation time and there was extra time. in the resulting penalty shootout, Umusom won by 4-3.
The second semi final had ime Ahuwa fc draw 1-1 with Umush fc. Penalties were also needed to separate the teams and eventually, ime Ahuwa fc won by 5-4.
At the third place match, Umuhuru fc defeated Umushi fc by 3-1.
In the finals, Umusom fc and ime Ahuwa fc played 1-1 draw after regulation time; penalty shootout was again needed to determine the winner of the competition. Umusom fc scored three of theirs while ime Ahuwa fc missed the first three kicks.
The Coordinator of the competition, Prof. Chimaobi Igbokwe, said competition was a huge success. “But there can’t be very perfect competition so improvement must come in the areas of provision of playing kits to all the participating teams. Fans of these teams should be sensitised and educated to know that football is not do or die. You cannot win all the time.
I advise that moving forward, before another edition starts, the teams, their coaches and fans be sensitised on the new rules of the game, this will help reduce hooliganism and unruly behaviour.
