20 Teams Fight For Honour As 4th Abuja Veterans Tourney Kicks off August 31

20 Teams Fight For Honour As 4th Abuja Veterans Tourney Kicks off August 31

By Niyi Busari

Not fewer than 20 teams have completed their registration and are ready to contest for the trophy as the 4th Abuja Veterans tournament begins on 31st August, 2024, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

According to the fixture, defending champions Abuja All Stars and City Gate All Stars are set to ignite the opening day of the fourth edition of the Abuja Veterans Tournament. This was announced during the world press conference and draws held Wednesday at the FIFA Goal Project Center in Abuja.

The tournament, which now features 20 teams vying for the ultimate prize and bragging rights for the next year, has seen significant growth since its first edition, which only had 8 teams. Speaking at the event, Abuja All Stars President, Nasir Jubril, emphasized the importance of participation, networking, and fostering camaraderie among former international and retiring footballers.

“Abuja All Stars won the last edition of the competition, but I truly hope another team can claim the title this year. The goal should go beyond winning; it should be about participating, building new networks, and creating a spirit of camaraderie among members. I hope everyone keeps this in mind,” Jubril stated.

Patrick Bassey, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and national U15 coach, highlighted the unprecedented increase in participants for this edition. He also mentioned that, due to capacity constraints, some teams had to be turned away. To address this issue, a qualifying round will be introduced in the next edition to determine the final participants.

The competition kicks off on August 31, with six matches scheduled for Saturday and four for Sunday. The winner will take home one million naira, while the runner-up will receive seven hundred and fifty thousand naira, the third-place team five hundred thousand naira, and the fourth-place team two hundred and fifty thousand naira.

Here’s the grouping for the fourth edition of the Abuja Veterans Tournament:

Group A

Abuja All Stars (Champions)

City Gate All Stars

Corporate Kickers

Jabi All Stars

Group B

Nyanya All Stars

University of Abuja

Mark Steve

Lugbe All Stars

Group C

Gwagwalada All Stars

Unity Foundation All Stars

LINKE MINDS All Stars

Capital Sportif

Group D

Apo Fitness Club

Kuje All Stars

Police Machines Legends

Nurudeen Veterans Cup

Group E

Games Village FC

Karu All Stars

Ex-Professionals

Capital City Club