The First Edition of the Abia State “Governor’s Cup” Football Tournament instituted by the Ikpeazu administration came to a conclusion, Friday with Umuahia South Football Team lifting the trophy.
The Umuahia South football team defeated their Aba South Counterpart with a 5-4 win in a penalty shoot out.
Recall that the tournament which kicked off in December 2020 with the aim of discovering and projecting Abia talents to the world, featured football teams from the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.
Speaking in an interview with journalists during the grand finale of the competition held at the Umuahia Township Stadium Governor Okezie Ikpeazu who said he was amazed at the display of soccer artistry by the players described their performance as a brilliant display of sportsmanship.
The Governor expressed delight that the competition has engaged the youths adding that it has potentials towards moulding them to International footballers.
He expressed the hope that budding talents will be fished out at the end of the competition and promised to sustain the tempo in his investment in the sports sector of the state.
According to Governor Ikpeazu “Foreign and Local scouts are readily available to pick the best among the players for further development and engagement.
“I believe there are scouts from Europe Africa and Nigeria,so we are preparing the raw materials for soccer for tomorrow”.
The Governor disclosed the willingness of the State Government to partner the private sector as it is more sustainable and will produce the desired mileage.
“The way to go everywhere is partnering with private sector. Everybody believes that private sector partnership is better and more sustainable. It will give you the kind of mileage you desire at all times”, Ikpeazu said.
The Governor also declared the readiness of Abia State contingent to compete favourably with their counterparts at the forthcoming National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Edo State this year.
“Abia contingent is prepared to rub shoulders with their counterparts from across the globe”, Ikpeazu concluded.
