Hensen Demonstration School Lifts 2017 NNPC/Shell Cup

The 19th edition of Nigeria’s biggest youth football championship, NNPC/Shell Cup, came to a thrilling climax last Tuesday with the crowning of Hensen Demonstration School, Benin City as the 2017 champions. Two members of the team, Arase Iyobor and Mavis Ahunwan, emerged the Most Valuable Players (MVPs) and winners of a training trip to Feyenoord Academy in The Netherlands.
The Hensen boys pipped their counterparts from Holy Ghost College, Owerri to the second position by 2:0 before a large crowd at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, which included hundreds of students and representatives of Ministers of Sports and Education; Lagos State governor; Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); the Nigerian Football Federation; Nigerian Schools Sports Federation and Shell Companies in Nigeria.
After a classic display of talent, tactics, style and skill by the lads, Arase Iyobor, who recorded a brace and emerged the highest goal scorer of the tournament, opened the goal line in the 34th minute of play when he converted a penalty kick which resulted from the downing of one of his teammates. The second goal of the match came in the second half when Arase hit the net from another penalty kick.
“This is another successful delivery of youth football talent pool by the SPDC Joint Venture, opening a vast opportunity for local and international scouts to make their picks without losing the founding principle of the tournament which is the simultaneous promotion of education and football among Nigerian youths,” said Managing Director of The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor, represented by the General Manager External Relations, Igo Weli.
The golden team got prize money of N3.5million while the second position team received N2.3million.
In the third place match played earlier at the same venue, Government Day Secondary School, Lamisula, Borno State sank Sambo Secondary School, Gusau, Zamfara by 4:3 in a penalty shootout after a 2:2 draw in full time of play to pick the bronze of the tournament and a prize money of N1.3. The Zamfara team got N1.1million for coming fourth.