Perm Sec Lauds Information Football Team

In appreciation of the performance of the “Mighty Sparrows” of Information at the recently concluded Head of Service Football Competition, the Management of the Ministry led by the permanent Secretary, Dr. Godwin Mpi, has organised a reception for the player.

Speaking at the reception, the Permanent Secretary congratulated them for their brilliant performance, adding that although they did not lift the trophy, they performed credibly well.

He assured the players of the Ministry’s support and encouragement in subsequent compeitiotns and enjoined them to put in more effort.

Dr. Mpi commended the Head of Service, Mrs Esther Anucha for instituting the competition and for seeing the need for Civil Servants in the State to be involved in Sporting activities.

He thanked the Directors in the Ministry, the General Managers of the Parastatals for their support both morally and financially, and the Coach of the team Mr. Walter Inegbenesie for his effort in training the team and early procurement of kits for the competition.

In her address, the General Manager of Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation, Ms. Medline Tador, commended the players for their collective efforts which placed them in a second position in the competition.

She congratulated the team for not conceding any goal during the match, stressing that although they lost through penalty Kicks to Ministry of Commerce and Industry, they were not losers.

Speaking on behalf of the players, the Captain of the team, Mr. Honour Sirawoo, thanked the Permanent Secretary and the entire ministry for the reception, noting that they never expected a reception having lost the final.

He thanked the players for their cooperation and the management for their support and assured them that the team will do better next year.

The highlight of the progamme was the presentation of a total cash gift of N150,000 to the team.

It will be recalled that the Mighty Sparrows of Information, a team which represented the Ministry of Information at the just concluded Head of Service football competition, lost to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry 4-3 during a penalty shoot out. Before Commerce and Industry, the team encountered various ministries without conceding a goal: the journey began with beating Local Government Commission 4-0, next was Deputy Governor’s Office which bowed 1-0 to them and Ministry of Sports which crashed 2 -0 to them. The Team in addition to being the runner up also produced the highest goal scorer of the league, Mr Francis Edookor.

Athletes competing in an almost empty stadium.