Enugu Rewards Players With Scholarships

The Enugu State Government has awarded automatic scholarships up to university level to 30 players of the state that won this year’s national under-13 and under-15 football tournaments at Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.  

The State Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime who announced the scholarship award when the two teams came to Government House to present the trophies said that the gesture was government’s desire to encourage the players for doing the state proud during the tournament. 

While  praising  the players and their handlers for their successful outing, governor Chime  restated his government’s commitment to continue encouraging the promotion of sports, especially at the grassroots levels and in schools.  

He noted  the need to prepare the young ones in all areas of sports as feeders and to replace the old ones when necessary, pointing out that  because of the importance government attaches to sports development, some stadia have been developed in the state. He called on stakeholders, philanthropists and sports lovers to complement government’s efforts in sports promotion in the state.  

This, he said, they could do by assisting in reviving the schools’ inter-house sports competitions and encouraging inter-club competitions.  

Earlier in his speech, the State Director of Sports, Mr. Brendan Ugwoke said that the state under 13 players that competed in the under 13 category of the championship were selected from the state through zonal elimination series at Umuahia. 

Mr. Ugwoke further  explained that during the zonal elimination competition, Enugu and Imo states emerged victorious to represent the South-East zone at the national stage. 

The state’s U-13 team played 16 matches and won all without conceding any goal or drawing at the national level. 

According to him, the State U-13 team defeated their Jigawa State counterparts by one goal in the final and scored a total of 41 goals during the competition.  

On the other hand, the State’s U-15 team beat their Kaduna State counterparts and the defending champion by 14 goals to 13 in penalty shoot out.   

He said that the state team was able to emerge victorious because of the encouragement and support from the state government and the State Sports Council. He thanked the Governor for all the support and encouragement