National Para-Soccer Tourney: Kaduna Emerges Champions

National Para-Soccer Tourney: Kaduna Emerges Champions By Wale Ayeni, Abuja The Kano State Para Soccer team was dethroned by Kaduna State 3-6 in the final of the 6th edition of World Polio Day National Para Soccer Tournament held at the Rowe Park sports complex, Yabba, Lagos. Kano state who have won the tournament in four different occasions in 2013, 2014, 2016 2017 in Anambra State., bowed to the high pressure of Kaduna state playing in their first final since the maiden edition which saw the brilliant performance of Abdulrahman Yunus scoring hat-trick for Kaduna. Newcomers in the game, Delta won the third place match against Katsina after which the match ended at a 4- 4 draw after normal regulation time and was decided on penalties as Tasia Sani of Delta broke the jinx by putting the ball behind the experienced Katsina goalkeeper Bature Danjuma. . Veteran player and one of the founding members of the game Bala Isa was awarded for promoting the game. Meanwhile, the governors of Delta, Bayelsa, Katsina, Lagos, and Gombe were also given an award for their contribution towards sports development in their respective states. The special guest of honour, the national chairman Nigeria natural polio plus committee Dr. Tunji Funsho, while addressing newsmen during the closing ceremony revealed that the rate of polio cases in the country has reduced drastically, and also charged parents to always make sure they immunize their children accordingly. While the Rotary International District Governor Kola Shidipo called on the Government to provide centers for immunization of the people in both urban and rural area to make Nigeria free from polio. On his part President and founder of Para soccer, Alhaji Misbahu Didi expressed his gratitude to Rotary International for sponsoring the kick out polio tournament for the past six years.