Mayor’s Football Cup Starts Impressively In PH

In a bid to develop grassroots football in Port Harcourt, the 2023 Mayor Football Cup tournament among Wards in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area (PHALGA) kicked off on Saturday at Elekahia Primary School field.
The tournament was gripped with excitements and fanfares witnessed by huge attendance saw  Ward 7 recording  her first  victory  over Ward 2 via 4-2 penalty  shootout  after both sides settled  on one goal apiece  at regulation time.
Call it a high profile grassroots football  competition  if you like, the truth  remains that  good  number of soccer fans including  eminent  personalities  were in attendance  to grace the opening  game.
Speaking in an interview  with sports journalists shortly after the keenly contested match, the Mayor Sir Allwell  lhunda  expressed satisfaction with  the good football  artistry  displayed  by the two teams irrespective of the final score  line  in favour of  Ward 7.
Sir lhunda further disclosed that it was his burning desire to sponsor the tournament aimed at using the platform to foster unity among various Wards as well as to expose budding talents that abound in the area for grabs  by talent chasers.
“ln fact, the standard of today’s game with  the officiating  were okay as it could be compared  with  what  we used to witness in the Nigeria  Professional  League  matches and also at  National level.
“The boys actually played well and l can assure you that if they sustain  the tempo, nothing will stop  talent chasers coming to  look  for  them”,  the self- confident” said.