The week long 5-aside soccer tournament, organized by the Nasarawa II Youth Multipurpose and Cooperative Association came to end yesterday in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi state capital.
Mercurial Football Club emerged winner in a competition in which a total of 12 teams – all of them domiciled in Nasarawa II ward of Birnin Kebbi participated. Bulangi Boys FC which lost the final match on penalties after a barren draw, became the runners up. The match was played at one of Birnin Kebbi’s elite relaxation and amusement points known as Azbir Arena.
Invited special guests including Media Consultant Yakubu Ahmed-BK (Maibindiga), Federal Commissioner of the National Population Commission Dr Hali Bala Jikan Daudu and one of Kebbi’s enterprising young men Comrade Bashar Aliyu Buhari took turns to hand over various prizes won by teams and players.
Speaking at the end of the final match, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed who announced a personal donation of N100,000 to the organizers commended all the participating teams for the sportsmanship displayed in the week long tournament. He said sports, though competitive in nature, is more of an avenue to foster unity amongst the teeming youths and development of the mind.
He said the organizers have shown a remarkable capacity to unite the people of Nasarawa II ward by the commitment they have shown over the years to the development of the area. He urged them to redouble their efforts by inking up with hard-thought initiatives until their objectives are achieved.
Also speaking, Dr Hali Bala who was represented by Dr. Ahmed Asiri expressed happiness at the spirit behind the competition and said this will go along way to engender cooperation and unity among the teeming youths of the state. He made an offer of 20 job placements for the two finalists – ten apiece in the forthcoming National population and housing census. He said the earnings in the engagements will total N7m. 20 forms for the placements were handed over to the Chairman of NYMCA Muhammad Aminu and other executive members to the applause of both the players, officials and guests.
Youth leader and social media influencer Comrade Bashar Aliyu Buhari who donated N20,000 to the winners and their runners up also addressed the teams. He explained that sports is a veritable tool for the promotion of the individual and the society at large.
He advised all stakeholders in the development of sports in Kebbi state to think out of the box by working to export talents that are abound in the state to European and other developed continental leagues around the world.
Prizes were given to deserving individual winners. Among them were the best player of the tournament Maniru Mohammed and the highest goal scorer Hamza Dogon Tara.
The winners cup was handed over to the Captain of Mercurial FC by the Special Guest Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed-BK Maibindiga.
