Maste-Care International School, Asaba, Delta state, owned by wife of former governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Mrs. Roli Uduaghan, Saturday at the Delta State Polytechnic stadium, Ozoro, emerged winner at the principals’ cup tournament sponsored by Zenith Bank Plc.
Maste-Care International School, beat Idjerhe Grammer School, Idjerhe 2-1 to emerge winner in the tournament played at the 14,000 capacity stadium of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, headquarters of Isoko North local government area of the state while the second and third positions went to Idjerhe Grammer School, Idjerhe and Ogbe-Ijaw Grammer School, Ogbe-Ijaw with schools in all the local government areas of the state participating.
Speaking at the finals, Delta state Governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Okowa said no secondary schools in the state would be approved to function without provisions for sporting facilities, stressing that the desire of his administration is for the state to constantly maintain its leading role in sporting activities which would be achieved through grooming future champions from the primary school levels.
“I believe that we have all had fun this afternoon, this is a dream come true, I believe that we will continue in this stead so that the energy of our youths will be used for gainful ventures. Any school that is applying as a new secondary school must have sports facilities, without that, there will be no registration, because, we have seen some schools tucked into a little space without consideration for sports facilities.”
The governor however expressed joy at the excitement that trailed the edition of the principals’ cup in the state coming after several years.
“The quality of football we witnessed this afternoon is something we will talk about for a long time to come. We are looking forward to the school sports competitions like we used to have in General Ogbemudia’s administration in the old Bendel State; I want to urge our Principals to take it as a must to annually, organise its sports competition and our local government chairmen must pay attention to sports development.
“We will continue to develop our sports facilities, we will look at how to organise sporting competitions at primary school levels, our dominance in sporting events will remain for a long time to come because, we will always discover talents through these events.” he stated.
Okowa, urged parents to allow their children the freedom to participate in sporting events because, “Parents don’t know what their children will be in the future.”
Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Peter Amangbo who spoke through Mr Lucky Bade, congratulated winners of the championship, assuring that Zenith Bank would sponsor the sporting championship annually with a promise to always associate with Delta State government to discover future stars.
The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Chiedu Ebie had earlier, thanked Governor Okowa for encouraging sports development in the state, stating that the benefits of encouraging the youths to be involved in sporting events are enormous.
HardReporters Sports correspondent who covered the event reports that the event witnessed the presence of the President of Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Mr. Amaju Pinnic and Nigeria’s professional footballers, Henry Nwosu, Victor Ikpeba, Victor Agali, Edema Fuludu, Ndubuisi Okoesieme, Ifeanyi Udeze as well as traditional rulers among others.
