Ward A Clinches Victory in Inaugural Coach Abinu 5-Aside Football Tournament in Lokoja
Ward A in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State has emerged champions of the maiden edition of the Coach Ambassador Gabriel Abinu 5-Aside Football Tournament.
The team edged out Ward E with a lone goal in a fiercely contested final played at the Confluence Fitness Centre pitch in Lokoja.
The grassroots tournament featured five teams, representing Wards A to E, and attracted a large turnout of spectators, including dignitaries from within and outside the state.
The final match was a thrilling display of passion, skill, and sportsmanship, as both sides entertained the crowd with remarkable energy and flair.
Speaking after the final whistle, the tournament sponsor, Ambassador Coach Gabriel Abinu, expressed satisfaction with the players’ performance and reiterated his commitment to developing grassroots sports in Kogi State.
“This competition has shown that Kogi State is richly blessed with raw football talents. I am genuinely impressed with the players’ performances. They gave their all, and I am confident they will do even more in future competitions,” he said.
Coach Abinu also announced that he would personally sponsor the football careers of the most outstanding players from the tournament. “This is my little way of giving back to society and ensuring our youths have a platform to thrive.”
He further stressed the importance of sports as a tool for social change, saying, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Tournaments like this keep our youths engaged in meaningful activities, taking their minds off social vices such as cultism, kidnapping, and armed robbery.”
Abinu pledged to continue using sports as a vehicle to engage young people and uncover new talents that could represent Kogi State at national and international levels.
The maiden edition of the Coach Abinu 5-Aside Football Tournament may have ended, but for many of the young players, the journey is just beginning.
