The Kontagora Local Government football team has emerged as the champions of the inaugural Kontagora Emirate inter-local government football competition, tagged "Mai Sudan Cup," organised by the Zone C Football Association and sponsored by the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Idrees Abdulkareem Lafene.
The Kontagora LG team defeated the Mariga LG team 2-0 in the finals held on Sunday at Adamu Bokani Stadium in Kontagora.
The Emir of Kontagora, Alhaji Mu'azu Muhammad Barau II, in whose honour the competition was held, witnessed the closing ceremony of the tournament, accompanied by his council members.
Speaking to sports journalists shortly after the finals, the emir remarked that football is one of the activities that brings the youth together. He urged the youth to embrace football not only for leisure but also as a means of livelihood, using it as a tool for unity and peaceful coexistence among them.
The emir also took the opportunity to appreciate Governor Mohammed Umar Bago for his developmental strides in the state, praying for continued strength and wisdom for the governor.
While commending Niger NLC Chairman Comrade Idrees Abdulkareem Lafene, who holds the title of Dan Adalin Kontagora, for sponsoring the football competition in his honour, the royal father called on affluent individuals in the emirate to engage the youth through football.
He also appreciated the Niger State Football Association (NSFA) under the leadership of Comrade Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, the Zone C Football Association, and the Kontagora LG Football Council for ensuring that the competition was hitch-free and successful.
Comrade Idrees Abdulkareem Lafene revealed that football offered him the opportunity to be appointed as a civil servant by Kontagora LG due to his dedication to the local government football team. He added that football made him who he is today, and he owes everything he has to football, which is why he is giving back to society through the sponsorship of football tournaments across the state.
Comrade Lafene, as a titleholder of the Kontagora Emirate, promised to continue contributing to the peace and unity of the emirate and to do his best towards youth development.
Speaking on behalf of football stakeholders across the state, NSFA Chairman Comrade Ahmed Yusuf Fresh appreciated the Emir for his support and fatherly advice towards the success of the tournament, stating that the Emir's presence during the finals added glamour to the closing ceremony.
Meanwhile, the NLC Chairman and his delegation had earlier paid homage to the emir at his residence to appreciate his support and acceptance of the tournament organised in his honour, as well as for conferring the title of Dan Adalin Kontagora on the NLC Chairman.
The six local governments under the Kontagora Emirate participated in the tournament, with the closing ceremony witnessed by football stakeholders and the state labour movement family, including the state chairman of TUC, NUT, and the Medical and Health Workers Union, among others.