The New W.W.White Football Tournament for Secondary Schools in Port Harcourt, 2025 edition has produced new set of winners.
The tournament organised by great minds Grass root Development and sports initiative, sponsored by Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC was held on Tuesday at Sharks football stadium with Government Secondary school Elekahia outscoring her Government Secondary School Rebisi Port Harcourt counterpart 4-2 at the regulation time as Pabod Model Secondary School piped her opposite side Community Government Secondary School Azuabie 1-0 to clinch the third place battle Award prize.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the event, the Managing Director of NDDC Dr. Samuel Ogbuku remarked that the event has been a healthy competition where teams learn from each other.
His words, “For those that are winning, must understand that they need to work hard and to those who are losing need to go back to the drawing board to ascertain what really went wrong so as to make amend in the next Edition of the competition”.
Dr. Ogbuku further disclosed that NDDC are committed in providing the platform for Youths to showcase their talents so that they will be valuable not only to the state but Nigeria at large.
He, however, maintained that this singular gesture of NDDC in engagement of the youths in sports particularly in football will go a long way in helping to nurture the young boys to become shining stars of the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.
“Indeed, we have done a similar exercise in Uyo this year which was very stressful and I’m believing that creating same kind of opportunity here will help to expose our youth to be grabbed by scouts who are looking for talents to be groomed to represent the state, region and Nigeria”.
He, further noted that it is a thing of joy that this youthful competition had in the past produced great names in football who were featuring in Super Eagles team while believing that same players could also be spotted from here to dorn Nigeria colour in near future.
The NDDC boss however, charged the youthful players to put in their best in the game, especially now that the platform has been provided for them to showcase their skills and the commission has equally assured to continuously to support all school sports activities including Arts and Culture so that every youth in Delta would be given the opportunity to excel in its area of specialization.
Also in a seperate interview, the Chairman main Organizing Committee Engr. Promise Alabere said he was so excited with the excellent performance of the two finalists irrespective of the final scolreline.
He, firstly, thanked the MD/NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku for his approval in bringing the Secondary Youth Soccer Project back to the stream which according to him have finally come to stay.
The elated Alabere, however, stated that he has the strong believe that with the massive support of the NDDC Boss, the eventual winners of the years edition of the tournament will go far.
Hear him, “We are preparing the teams for a good tournament ahead, believing that the two winning sides will play in the NDDC Zonal games come next year”.
“For us, it is an upgrade and a plus for Rivers team to play among the best in the Niger Delta region, interestingly, I’m impressed with the emergence of different schools as Champions in every edition which should be attributed to schools adequate preparations and determination to become a winner and not just coming for mere participation alone”, the outspoken Alabere frankly remarked.
He, nevertheless seized the opportunity to encourage the youths to be more committed to their studies and equally play football well, having seen that they have great potentials to become big players in near future to make money for their living.
Pressed, Engr. Alabere who also doubles as the Chairman of Prolab Soccer Academy, however prayed that State Government will do well to compliment the efforts of what the NDDC is doing towards promotion of grassroot football in the region.
“Truly, we don’t have youth activities in the state anymore as it used to be in the past. Everything in the State is finished, little wonder Coaches in the state are only committed in poaching of athletes outside State during sporting event”.
In his remarks, a strong BOT member of the working Committee, William G. Beriaye could not hold back his joy in saying that both the organisation of the game and turnout of the personalities at the event were massive.
He, however, expressed satisfaction with the high level of football artistries displayed by the finalists, added that ‘he never knew that such good potentials abound in Rivers Secondary Schools’.
Beriaye who is also the Media Director of the body nevertheless, took time to encourage the NDDC led by Dr. Samuel Ogbuku for giving an express approval in hosting and sponsoring the tournament, which undoubtedly, have succeeded in discovering hidden talents from various Government Schools in Rivers State.
“Regrettably, for some years back, no Rivers boy has been discovered to join the big leagues or national team but with the proactive move or idea from the organizers of this youth tournament, I will not be surprised to seeing one or two young players being discovered to join the state club Rivers United FC soonest”.
It would be recalled that the first position in the tournament went home with the sum of 2.5million naira, the second position got 1.75million naira while the third placed team smiled back home with whoppy sum of 1.25million naira.
