Future Stars Clinch Coach Aliyu Zubairu U-15 Kiddies Cup
Future Stars Clinch Coach Aliyu Zubairu U-15 Kiddies Cup
Future Stars Football Academy has clinched the second edition of Coach Aliyu Zubairu U-15 Football Tournament after defeating Gaa Akanbi Kids 4-2 on penalties following a goalless draw in the regulation time.
The thrilling and well attended grand final took place at Kwara Football Academy pitch (KFA) inside the George Agbazika Innih Stadium, Ilorin on Sunday.
The final match was preceded by Aliyu Zubairu Football Coaching Seminar where grassroots coaches were trained on modern football techniques.
The duo of Coach Zubairu and Coach Gbenga Ogunbote were on hand to inspire the participants at the seminar which featured both theory and practical session.
Ramadan Oyeleke scored the decisive spot kick for Future Stars Academy to emerge champions amid the dramatic scene of penalties.
It was a balanced game in the first half as both teams showed more purpose upfront but it was Future Stars who were more closed to scoring.
It took debutants Gaa Akanbi close to the end of first half before they got into the game owing to their cautious form of approach to the encounter.
The second half had both teams increasing their surge and search for breakthrough, as the end to end stuff left the crowd at the well attended final in awe and excitement.
On the heels of their onsalaught however, Future Stars were eventually handed a penalty after one of the defenders of Gaa Akanbi handled the ball in the box, but skipper Abdullahi Kamaldeen who would later won the Most Valuable Player award of the tournament missed the spot kick, and further left the game wide open.
Future Stars goalkeeper, Abdulganiyu Semiu who eventually picked the Golden glove of the tournament was the hero of the game as he saved two spot kicks and Ramadan scoring the decisive spot kick to help his team lifted the coveted trophy.
In the third place match, Gidado FA defeated inaugural champions Barca Kiddies 2-0 to claim bronze medal. Taiye Hassan of Gidado Football Academy won the highest goalscorer of the tourney after notching five goals in the course of the tournament.
The competition organized which was organised in honour of Coach Aliyu Zubairu, Head Coach of Flying Eagles of Nigeria and aimed at discovering emerging football talents featured a total number of 20 teams and over 400 kids footballers.
Highlights of the event was the presentation of set of jerseys donated by Coach Aliyu Zubairu to all the Eight teams that reached the quarterfinal stage of the tournament.
While commemorative medals were presented to dignitaries at the event, certificates were also presented to over 50 coaches who participated in the Aliyu Zubairu Football Coaching Seminar.
Top dignitaries present include the Executive Chairman Kwara State Sports Commission; Coach Bola Mogaji, Director of Sport and Administrator of Kwara Football Academy;Mallam Ibrahim Bako, Flying Eagles Coach; Coach Aliyu Zubairu, Former Technical Director of Kwara Football Academy;Coach Paul Odey and Former Kwara United Chairman; Chief Oladimeji Thompson.
Others include Chairman of Kwara State Football Association, Mallam Idris Abdullahi Thuraya represented by Alhaji Ahmed Abdallah, Kwara SWAN Chairman, Mallam Ayodeji Ismail, Veteran Journalist and Sportspro Publisher; Bayour Issah, Alhaji Owolabi Agbaji Wopa, Alhaji Toyin Olokooba and Alhaji Mujeeb Erubu,Director of Sports Unilorin, Professor Tajudee Ibrahim and a host of others.
