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The kick-off of the 2017 edition of the Zenith Bank-Delta Principals’ Cup competition for secondary schools went well today, Wednesday, November 01, 2017, at the Sports ground of St. Patricks College, Nnebisi Road, Asaba, with Mr. Tony Pemu, Managing Director of Ideal Plus Limited saying that the experience with the tournament so far has been wonderful.

Delta State House of Assembly Committee chairman for Sports, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi took the kick-off to signal the commencement of hostilities in the clash between defending champions of the Principals’ Cup, Master Care International Secondary school, Asaba and the defending champions of the 2013 Governor’s Cup, Comprehensive Secondary School, Ogwashi –Uku ended in a 1-1 draw.

Displaying good football artistry, both teams came into the game sizing up each other, sought and missed many scoring chances, until in the dying minutes of the first half when Comprehensive Secondary schools’ Duru Ndubuisi, cashed in on a costly miss by the Master Care goal keeper, latched onto the ball and netted it in for the curtain raiser for his school.

But seven minutes into the second half, Master Care squad equalized from a beautiful build up from the mid-field, with fine body swerves and scintillating dribbles by Fegor Ugboma, who netted in the equalizer for his school.

Mr. Pemu told banneronlinenews.com in an interview that he is amazed at what the vision for the Principals’ cup tournament has turned out to be. He said: “It has become movement, It has become phenomenon. It has exceeded our expectation, and it seems to be getting better every season. If the kick-off could be like this, you can imagine what the finals would be like. We are not leaving any stone unturned to ensure that we come out with a beautiful, world class game.”

Pemu disclosed that from the last edition of the tournament that a few outstanding players have been selected, who would be added to other players to be discovered in the on-going edition. “We are planning a football clinic where players would have the privilege of meeting scouts from national and international clubs.
“We are also planning a football academy and all of these we are going to achieve when we know the resources, and the available skills. Thank God for Zenith Bank the sponsor that has told us to just go ahead and we are behind you,” Mr. Pemu stated.

He also confirmed that youths, who are the focus of the tournament, are now getting better informed and becoming aware. “At the last edition, we had between 50 and 60 percent of schools participating; now we have well over 75 to 80 percent of schools participating in this edition. We expect that by the next edition, it would be 100 percent. I think that we are reaching out to the young boys. We are already beginning to discover those who will take over from the J.J.Okochas and the kanu Nwankwos,” Pemu enthused.