Sporting Dream FC Abuja Are Champions of Stephen Keshi National U-17 Football Tournament

SPORTING DREAMS FC ABUJA WINS STEPHEN KESHI NATIONAL U-17 FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT By Admin Sporting Dreams Football Club Abuja emerged winner of the 1st edition of Stephen Keshi national under 17 football tournament in Benin The finals of the tournament which took place at the Crescent Sports Club Benin on thursday 7th of June 2018, in highly contested game between the champion Sporting Dreams FC Abuja and BJ Foundation FC of Benin ended in a 1-1 draw at regulation time, before going into a penalty kicks which the champion eventually won The tournament put together by the National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers in conjunction with the Stephen Keshi Football and Vocational Training Centre Obazuwa in Edo State, was part of the activities to mark the second anniversary of late Stephen Keshi who died on the 7th of June 2016 in Benin and provide a platform for the identification of talented young Footballers across the length and breath of Nigeria ,one of the things late Stephen Keshi loved doing best. More than forty players have been selected by the organiser's to be subjected to further screening and training to play a Friendly match with the national under 17 team and other Scouting arrangement within and outside the country. The tournament which kick started on the 1st of June saw a total number of 12 teams across Nigeria , made up of more than 240 youths representing their respective teams. Cowbell Football Academy emerged as the best behaved team, while Osaghae Uyosa and Vincent Igbinigie from BJ Foundation , Edo State were nominated as the most valuable player/ highest goal scorer and the best Goalkeeper of the tournament. The football tournament presents an exciting platform for youth in Nigeria to showcase their skills and passion for the sport, as well as providing the local football community with the opportunity to identify talented youths Hon Ogbeide Omoregue Ihama, Chairman House Committee on Culture and Tourism (Federal House of Representatives) Donor of the Trophy said, "participants had a lot of fun over the past one week all through the duration of the tournament and applauded the foresight of the organiser while pledging continue support for the tournament. Representatives of the family of late Stephen Keshi, Mr Ifeanyi Nweke , also commended NANPF for preserving the legacies and contributions of Stephen Keshi to Football in Nigeria and Africa through the tournament while urging the Federal government and the football community to support the various initiatives of the Players Union including the Stephen Keshi Football and Vocational Training Centre towards immortalising the late football icon.