By Ishaq Dan-Imam, Lokoja
Young Stars FC emerged champions of the maiden edition of the Bassa Peace Football Tournament after defeating Koriko FC 1-0 in the final played on Saturday at Oguma Township Stadium.
The keenly contested encounter saw Young Stars FC score the only goal of the match in the first half through a penalty kick. Koriko FC mounted pressure in the second half in search of an equaliser, but were unable to break through the defence of the eventual champions.
For their triumph, the winners received a cash prize of N100,000, while the tournament’s overall best player also got a cash donation from the Chairman of Bassa Local Government Area, Theophilus Adama Daruwana.
Daruwana, who expressed delight over the massive turnout of football fans, promised to expand the competition in subsequent editions by mobilising political stakeholders and sponsors to sustain the annual championship.
He urged well-meaning indigenes of Bassa to emulate the sponsor of the tournament, Dr Baba Abdul Bala, by supporting sports development and youth-focused initiatives in the area.
Speaking at the event, the President-General of Ogba Community Development Union, Dr. Ishaq Dan-Imam, said the Bassa Peace Football Tournament was designed to promote peace, unity and grassroots sports development across Bassa Local Government Area.
According to him, the union is encouraging politicians and business leaders to invest in youth development through sports competitions and community-based programmes capable of building a sustainable future for talented young people in the area.
Oguma Young Stars Clinch Maiden Bassa Peace Football Tournament
