Sports
NDDC U17 Cup: Donastars FC Emerges Winners …Bayelsa To Host Next Edition
The second edition of the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) U17 Peace Cup football competition has come to an end at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, with Donastars Football Club of Abia State emerging champions of the annual tournament in a dramatic fashion, last Sunday.
Donastars FC came from two goals down to level up the game, with the second goal coming few minutes to stoppage time, and then went on to prevail with six-five on penalties against El-Godz Football Club, in a frenzy Abia-derby final, filled with determination and dexterity from both sides.
In the third place match played earlier, Campus Football Club of Imo State, defeated Ine Stars of Edo State by one goal to nil to finish as the third best team of the competition, thereby, following the footsteps of another Imo team, Sam Decent Academy, which finished in third position at the first edition held in Akwa Ibom state last year.
At the end of the second edition of the NDDC U17 Peace Cup, the winners, Donastars FC were awarded five million naira for emerging as champions of the competition, El-Godz FC will get three million naira for finishing second, while Campus FC will go home with two million naira as the third best team.
The Most Valuable Player of the tournament went to the captain of Campus FC of Imo, Chukwuemeka Prince, who eventually was the youngest captain at the competition, Jida Justice of Ine Stars, Edo State, won the Highest Goalscorer award, after ending the tourney as joint top scorer with seven goals, but was awarded for scoring first, ahead of Odoemena Pope of El-Godz FC of Abia, who was also presented with a medal for his heroics.
Shotstopper, Solomon Agoziem of Campus FC of Imo won the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament, with Kifa FC of Ondo emerging as the Best Behave Team, while the youngest player of the tournament went to Cyril Eta, of Safe Side FC of Cross River, who is aged 11 years.
Presenting the trophy to the winners of the competition, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Hon. Umana O. Umana, once again commended the Grassroot Sports Federation of Nigeria GRASOF, for initiating the tourney, and the Delta State Government for providing an enabling environment for the success of the competition.
The Minister who was represented by Mr Matthew Pukuma James, said, “the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs is indeed privileged to be part of this tournament which provided an opportunity for young lads to display their talents to the world. The football tournament will not only have players develop on their individual skills but would entrench the importance of teamwork and the spirit of sportsmanship. These traits, incidentally, are in line with the theme of the tournament which is Peace.”
Ex- Internationals – Christian Obodo, Sam Sodje, and Baldwin Bazuaye, were at the grand finale, where they presented medals and trophies to the winning teams, as well as the individual players that won honours in different categories.
Tournament Coordinator and President of the Grassroot Sports Federation of Nigeria, GRASOF, Hon. John Ekpenyong, announced Bayelsa State as the next host of the football competition, which comes up tentatively in December, 2023.
This year’s competition recorded a total of ninety four (94) goals scored, with El-Godz FC of Abia scoring thirteen goals throughout the competition, followed by Donastars FC, with eleven goals, while Ine Stars of Edo State finished the tournament with seven goals.
Port Harcourt the capital city of Rivers State will be at the centre stage in Nigeria as Port Harcourt Arsenal Community will hold her maiden edition of Football Fans Fiesta (FFF).
The Fiesta scheduled to hold on the 13th December, 2025, at Eddiz wine bar GRA, promises to be all football fans carnival in the State , as there will be a lot of fanfares.
The Coordinator of Port Harcourt Arsenal Community (PHAC), Ugochukwu Oputa has said that the forthcoming Football Fans Fiesta was basically to promote peace, unity and love among football fans in irrespective of the cub.
He stated that sports is a catalyst to bring peace, love and Unity in any given society, hence the occasion was initiated.
Oputa said this in an interview with sports journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, saying that arrangements are on top gear for a successful programme.
” This event is for all football fans irrespective of your club. It is basically to promote peace, love and Unity among fans.
“It is like stating the obvious that football is the catalyst of peace and unity in the world. So the Port Harcourt Arsenal Community want to use this avenue to bring people together and foster friendship.
“There is no gate fee, but it is expected to put on jersey of your club as to make the event look unique” Oputa said.
The Coordinator used the forum to advice football fans in the world to love one another, and equally urged fans that will attend the occasion to be of good conduct and behaviour.
Tonye Orabere
Consistent with its project execution routine, Dunamis-Icon Limited, Project Consultants of the Niger Delta Games, has concluded the first phase of physical inspection and evaluation of facilities for the event, 24 hours after the presentation of the hosting right to Edo State was performed.
The project management team was guided round select facilty locations in Benin City by Desmond Amadin Enabulele, Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, and the team leader, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo expressed satisfaction with the sports infrastructure assets of the host.
“Edo is a ready-made choice based on all the factors that are necessary to host this kind of big event. We are expecting over 3000 athletes coaches, alongside journalists and technical officials, with an approximate number of people outside spectators in the range of 5000. So, we need facilities that work for the games itself”, Ikpokpo explained.
He commended the Edo State Government for the good state of facilities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, and promised that the state will be assisted with the renovation of some of the facilities as may be necessary to ensure good competition experience for the athletes.
“I have been to the iconic Ogbe Stadium and must commend the Edo State Government for maintaining the facilities there. We are also considering taking some events to the University of Benin, so that people in that part of the city can also feel and enjoy the fun. Where need be, we will also see how to assist the state and the University of Benin to add value to some of the sporting facilities”.
Dunamis Icon Limited is the franchise rights owner to the games conceived and designed to provide a platform for unity and integration, and identifying and grooming talented youths from the region into national and international stars.
The NDDC as the flagship interventionist agency for the nine states that make up the region, is the prime sponsor of the games as part of their strategic focus on youth engagement and human capital development.
The inspection tour began at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, after a brief meeting with Enabulele and the Sports Commission team at his office.
Areas inspected include the stadium’s main bowl, the tartan track, the state box, the VIP lounges and other key areas like the ceremonial room, the media studio and other indoor facilities.
Other facility locations assessed are the Wire Road Sports Centre being listed to host basketball and volleyball games, the University of Benin Sports Complex, and the Etete Sports Centre.
In the entourage of Dunamis-Icon were the Project Director, Mr Fred Edoreh; Director of Facilities and Equipment, Dr Emmanuel Ochuko Igbigbisie; the head of Communications, Harry Iwuala; Head of Transport and Logistics, Israel Umueri Afoke. Others are Theresa Ineke, Head of Secretariat, Godwin Enakhena, the Head of Scouting, Mr. Edi Lawani, the Head of Culture Affairs and Entertainment and Elder Siegha Porbeni of the Technical Department.
The Edo Sports Commission Chairman was also supported by Hon. Frank Ilaboya and Mrs Sabina Chikere, Executive Directors, with Mr Baldwin Bazuaye (MON) also in the company.
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