by Chidera Akalonu
The Principals’ Cup Football Competition for all secondary schools in Delta State recently took place between March 16 and May 20. Courtesy of Zenith Bank plc, the competition which had been abandoned was revived and it witnessed high level of quality displayed by the players of various schools.
The competition had over 1,200 private secondary schools and 446 public government secondary schools took part.
Group Managing Director of Zenith, Peter Amangbo, said the Principals’ Cup project in Delta State was part of the bank’s social responsibility.
“We are in this partnership to bring out the young talents and give them a future. This competition is also good for the national coaches to identify some of the young ones who could be part of the country’s age-limit teams. Delta has a rich sports background and it is important that the secondary school football competition is revived,” Amangbo said.
Delta State officials led by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary School Education, Mr Chiedu Ebie, worked so hard with the organisers to prevent age-cheats and all manner of anomalies associated with age grade football competitions.
“We are very happy with the support from Zenith Bank and we are also very proud of the skills exhibited by the young ones in the competition,” Ebie said shortly after the final match at the Delta State Polytechnic Stadium in Ozoro.
Master Care International Secondary School defeated Iderghe Secondary School 2-1 to lift the trophy.
A major highlight of the final match was the presence of former Super Eagles players who featured in the Principals Cup at one time or the other for Delta and other states.
They are: Victor Ikpeba, Victor Agali, Samson Ozogula, Sam Sodje, Humphrey Jebba, Edema Fuludu, Ifeanyi Udeze, Henry Nwosu and Alfred Anijeku.
The ex-internationals commended Zenith Bank especially for reviving Principals’ Cup in the state after 28 years.
Ikpeba, who is also from Delta, said he was elated with the revival of the competition which according to him is a big boost to the youths in the state.
“A lot of legends played in the competition in the past, so I commend Zenith Bank for reviving it. We know the importance of football in the old Bendel State, it is great and I hope it continues for a very long time.”
Nwosu, who featured in Lagos State Principals’ Cup, was also full of praises for the sponsors and the organisers of the event.
Nwosu said: “I congratulate the organisers of this competition. I have always advocated for us to go back to the grassroots to bring out young talents because they are all there in the schools, so that we will stop using over-aged players for competitions.
“Let me suggest that the government should make it compulsory for every state to organise the Principals’ Cup for only students registered in the school not mercenaries.”
Former Super Eagles and New Nigerian Bank striker, Ozogula, also said: “I am happy with this competition especially being sponsored by a bank. I am a product of Principals’ Cup, my school Edo Boys then in ’78 won the Principals Cup and we represented Nigeria in All Schools Sports ’78 in Calabar and my school won the tournament. We must give kudos to Zenith Bank that is putting this very occasion into play as at this very new generation.”
Former Eagles Striker, Agali, is also one of the products of the competition in the state. He said the revival was a fantastic idea.
Agali said: “I played for Nupe Secondary School, Army Command, it is always nice to see this final. It starts from here and it is possible these kids you see now, they may be the next Real Madrid players in future.”
Another international, Sodje said:” I am very glad and happy because this is grassroot football, this is the way to catch them young and breed them to be future stars, future footballers that will represent the nation and play international football. Zenith Bank has done well.”
Three players stood out to bag individual awards at the event. They are King Ekeleme of Master Care who was voted the best goalkeeper of the tournament, Fergor Ugboma of Master Care who won the Golden Boot award and Emmanuel Etaghene of Idjerhe Grammar School who won the Most Valuable Player award.
Ebie, announced a scholarship award of N200,000 each for the individual winners throughout their secondary school education.
All the players and officials of the top three schools went home with attractive prizes from the sponsors apart from some of them who won individual and collective cash prizes. For example, the individual award winners were given laptops while all the players of Master Care Secondary School also went home with laptops. Bags, kits and other gift items were also given out to the students.
Ekeleme who won the Golden Gloves award said it was the start of his career in the round leather game.
“I want to commend Zenith Bank for giving us the opportunity to exhibit our talents. This is just the beginning for me and I am happy,” he said.
Etaghene who emerged the MVP stated that he was elated with the huge turnout at the stadium and the entire organisation of the tournament.
“It was a very tough competition and we are proud that we featured in the final although we lost, we gave a good account of ourselves. I am particularly happy that I met the governor of the state simply because I am playing football. This will make me work hard to do more,” Etaghene said.
Highest goal scorer in the tournament, Ugboma, was happy that he met some former international players during the final match of the competition.
“The players like Nwosu and Ikpeba are people we see on television but this competition made us to shake hands with them. That is a big inspiration to me as a young footballer and now I want to do more,” he said.