Unity Pre-season Tournament: Kogi United emerge winners

Kogi United at the weekend emerged champions of the maiden edition of the Unity Pre-season Tournament for NLO Division one clubs in the North Central geopolitical zone.

Kogi United after a pulsating full time encounter with Flight FC of Gboko which ended goalless, emerged victorious on 14 to 13 penalty kicks.

The match which was played at the Government Day Secondary School Gwagwalada playing ground was watched by a capacity crowd including the Chief Operating officer of the Nigeria Nationwide League Sola Ogunnowo who stood in for the Chairman of the NLO Board, Honourable Silas Agara.

Speaking at the occasion, the NLO boss was full of appreciation to the organisers of the tournament, for a job well done while advising the clubs to make maximum use of the opportunity given to them in the tournament to excel in the league proper.

He advised the managers of the NLO to lay more emphasis on business aspects of the game, by ensuring that they engage young and talented players from the grassroots, that will be beneficial to the country in the nearest future.

Former FCT Coaches Association Chairman, Godwin Bamigboye acknowledged the organisational ingenuity of the organisers led by Patrick Ngwaogu and the support of the North Central NLO Board representative Barrister Babatunde Akintade for putting together such a magnificent programme in Gwagwalada.

He went on to call on the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to shift his attention to the provision and resuscitation of the moribund stadias in the six Area Councils.

“If individuals can put together such a magnificent programme involving teams in a geopolitical zone, then it is a wake up call for the government to support in infrastructural development”.

To the Chairman of Kogi United, Hon Abdualik Isah ( Dolly) said the tournament was a top notch where teams were given the opportunity to exhibit their skills on the field of play.

The Director of Flight FC Andiir Solomon Atoo, said “I want to thank the organisers for the wonderful set up. We thank God it ended successfully. I want to implore them to keep the fire burning”.

The Unity Preseason Tournament for NLO teams had 12 teams from the North Central taking part.