Naira Rains As SM FC Wins Turaki Ngeri Football Championship
2 min read
By Sedara Philip
It was a crowning moment for the winners of the 4th edition of the Turaki Ngeri Football championship on Thursday where (Saliu Mustapha Football Club) SM FC defeated Blue Bubble FC 1-0 to win the tournament.
Sponsored by Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District at the Senate, Mallam Saliu Mustapha, the winner of tournament were presented with prize money of N300,000 while the first runner-up and second runner-up were gifted N150,000 and N100,000 respectively all courtesy of the sponsor.
Speaking at the well attended final match which was held at the Government Secondary School, Karuma, Akerebiata, Ilorin, the Chief of Staff to Senator Mustapha, Honourable Tunji Buhari who represented the lawmaker at the event commended the organizers for their steadfastness in hosting the tournament.
While noting that football is a unifying factor coupled with its ability to engage the youths meaningfully, he stated that the lawmaker is committed to developing sports across his senatorial district.
“My principal is committed to the development of sports and it’s on this basis that he is planning to attract facilities that will enable footballers to play their game both in the morning and the night across all the local governments in the senatorial district.
He added that the lawmaker is also committed to promoting some of the talents discovered in the tournament into the spotlight.
Earlier in his own remarks, the Chairman of the Balogun Gambari Sports Foundation, Zakari Muhammed Balogun who also doubles as the head of the organizing committee lauded the Sponsor of the tournament for his effort in developing the community.
“We sincerely thank our sponsor for his effort in developing the community. We want to use this medium to also ask him for critical intervention to renovate some of the dilapidated classrooms here in this school and also provide a shuttle bus to enhance the activities of our foundation.
He revealed that some of the players discovered in the previous editions are now making waves across different leagues in the country and beyond.
The Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Coach Bola Mogaji commended the organizers for leveraging the tournament to discover talents.
A total number of 17 teams participated in the tournament which has now become a force to reckon with in the grassroots.
As a form of motivation, prizes were also presented to outstanding players of the tournament at the final event which was held amid pomp and pageantry.
