NAN-H-72
Football
By Nicholas Obisike
Enugu, Nov. 30, 2016 (NAN) Golden Boys FC of Nkanu East in Enugu State has qualified to represent the state at the forthcoming Olympic Football Five-A-Side tournament in Lagos from Jan. 20 to Jan. 21.
The Project Manager of the championship, Patrick Okosodo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Wednesday that seven states and the Federal Capital Territory would participate in the project.
Okosodo listed the states as Edo, Enugu, Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, Oyo and Rivers.
He said that the project, sponsored by Olympic Milk and powered by Indo Sports of the Indomie Noodles producers, was aimed at fishing out talents and training them for national and international competitions.
“The purpose of the qualifiers is to pick teams from each of the states to battle for the finals in Lagos in January and the team will be taken care of by the sponsors.
“The overall winner will be rewarded with N1 million while the most valuable player will go home with N300, 000 with a free ticket to watch any of Manchester United’s matches in the ongoing season,’’ he said.
Okosodo decried the poor turnout of teams in spite of the publicity given to the project, adding that he did not regret it as those that made it showed good artistry.
He said that this year was the second edition of the tournament which commenced in Abuja in 2015.
The project manager thanked the four teams that participated at the state level and urged them to keep the flag flying.
The teams were United Stars of Ubahu in Nkanu East, Strikers FC from Awkunanaw in Enugu South, Barrack Boys FC and Golden Boys.
The Golden Boys FC defeated Strikers FC 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw to be crowned the state champions.
The club went home with a trophy while the highest goal scorer also from Golden Boys, Nwabueze Alumona, who scored five goals, was rewarded with a golden boot.
Alumona thanked the organisers and prayed his team to win the cup in Lagos.
“We are going home to do more work on our scoring and creativity so that we will represent the state better and also improve our skills,’’ Alumona said. (NAN)
NUO/MNA/MVO
(Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Mbadiwe Okwor)