Queen Kunde
Gamji Football Club of Jalingo defeated Nasarawo United by two goals to nil to clinch the first edition of Aiteo Challenge Cup held at the Jolly Nyame Stadium, Jalingo.
The Competition which was organized by the Chairman, Taraba State Football Association F.A, Mr. Timothy Heman Magaji was keenly contested by twelve non division football teams in the state.
Addressing journalists shortly after the encounter, the F.A chairman said the objective of the competition was to explore football talents hidden in many parts of the State with the aim of catching them young.
Timothy Heman expressed delight with the success recorded during the competition and urged the winners and the runner-up in the contest to intensify training as they will soon represent Taraba State in a round of Sixty-two and thirty two respectively.
Also commenting, the Taraba State Director of Sports, George Shitta, commended the F.A Chairman for organising the competition which he said will go a long way in discovering football talents across the state.
Speaking on the decaying infrastructure in the Jolly Nyame Stadium, the director appealed to private individuals and organizations to come in and compliment government’s effort in renovating the stadium.
Some sport enthusiasts who watched the match hailed the performance of the lads, called on the Taraba State government to invest more in grass root sports development to give the teaming youths in the State the opportunity to harness young talents.
Mr. Isichei Gabriel Blessing who said football competitions are expensive to organize, urged football lovers in the State to commit finances to sponsor more of such competitions to encourage the young talents across the state.
On his part, Mr. Hassan Abdulsalami Otori who is sports lover and a grass root football coach says he enjoys committing his resources to support young talents attain their dreams through football.
Otori who is a civil servant enjoined other well-meaning Tarabans to support grass root football financially in order to provide more opportunities for the teaming Taraba Youths to make it to the list of National and international Teams.
Highlights of the ceremony was presentation of awards to outstanding players while the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria SWAN Taraba State Chapter also bagged a medal for its immense contribution in projecting sporting activities in the State.
