The first ever 5-A-Side secondary school soccer competition was organized by Vision Center International in Minna, the capital city of Niger State, Nigeria from June 4, 2022 to June 11, 2022. The competition draws was held on June 2, 2022 and the award ceremony was on Sunday June 12, 2022
16 (Sixteen) schools participated at the keenly contested soccer tournament. Four schools made it to the semi-finals - Day Secondary School, Shanu, Police Secondary School, Minna, Bosso Secondary School and Hill Top Model Secondary School. Hill Top Model Secondary School and Bosso Secondary School qualified for the finals with Hill Top emerging as the winners of the first VCI Inter Secondary School 5 -A - Side Soccer Competition.
The awards ceremony was attended by distinguished guests from the Emirate Council, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Sports Development, School Principals and officials, Coaches of the respective schools represented and other guests. The special guest of honor, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education presented the cup to the captain of Hill Top Model School.
The following awards / prizes were given out:
1. Hill Top Model Secondary School (Winners) - N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) 2. Bosso Secondary School (Runners Up) - N80,000 (Eighty Thousand Naira) 3. Day Secondary School, Shanu (Third Place) - N60,000 (Sixty Thousand Naira). 4. Best Coach, Abdullahi Yandalu of Hill Top Model school received N10,000 (Ten Thousand Naira) 4. MVP, Abubakar Isah of Hill Top Model school received N5,000 (Five Thousand Naira) 6. Best Goalkeeper, Idris Jibril of Hill Top Model school received N5,000 (Five Thousand Naira). The highest goal scorer prize of N5,000 (Five Thousand Naira) was received by Ibrahim Gimba Koroka of Day Secondary School, Shanu.
N30,000 (Thirty Thousand Naira) each was awarded to quarter finalist, 1. Army Day Secondary School 2. Day Secondary School, Limawa, 3. NUT Endwell Model Science School, 4. Government Day Science College, Tunga.
N20,000 (Twenty Thousand Naira) each was awarded to all the other schools that participated: 1. Ahmadu Bahago Secondary, 2. Hill Crest International School, 3. Ideal Royal School, 4. Government Day Secondary School, Minna, 5. Father O'Connell Science School, 6. FUT Model School, 7. Mawo Schools and Educational Services, 8. Zarumai Model School.
In addition, all the 160 students that participated in the tournament got N2,000 (Two Thousand Naira) each with a customized back pack.
Vision Center International also gave scholarships to the 16 students that made up the first and second placed teams in the form of sponsorship of their WAEC and JAMB examination fees. This will be at the cost of N456,000 (Four Hundred and Fifty Six Thousand Naira)
First, second and third place teams all received gold, silver and bronze medals each. Certificates of Participation were presented to all the team principals.
The 5-A-SIDE Football Competition is going to be a yearly event. VCI has so far expended over N7M (Seven Million Naira) on this year’s 5 – A- Side soccer competition.
VCI has gone to great lengths to ensure that this competition was organized professionally and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the game. We speedily attended to the protests that were lodged with us in a view to ensure a level playing field and reached a determination which was communicated to the school involved.
It was indeed a fun filled ceremony. There was a raffle draw which saw guests win prizes. The Niger State Cultural Troupe, Gwape International entertained the guest with a wonderful display of dances with traditional instruments.
The aim of VCI to provide scholarship and encourage our students through sports has been achieved . The 5-A-Side Soccer competition will be an annual event in the state. Hopefully by the next competition we will expand to other communities outside Minna.
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