By Ado Salisu
Government Secondary School (GSS), Damaturu, will face GSS, Goneri, in the first semi-final of the maiden edition of the Sam Okwaraji Under-16 Soccer Tournament in Yobe State.
The two semi-final matches will be played today (Sunday), while the final will take place on Monday at the Game Village, Damaturu.
The Yobe State Commissioner for Education, Professor Abba Idris, is expected to attend as the Special Guest of Honour.
The tournament is organised by the Sam Okwaraji Foundation and the Nigerian School Sport Federation (NSSF), in collaboration with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), and is sponsored by First Bank Plc.
It is aimed at discovering and developing hidden football talents at the grassroots level across the country.
The Sports Coordinator in the Yobe State Ministry of Education, Hassan Dauda, described the performances of the participating teams as outstanding and urged them to maintain the high standard.
Dauda also commended Governor Mai Mala Buni and the State Commissioner for Education, Professor Abba Idris, for their commitment and support towards the development of sports in the state and across the country.
He called on residents of the state to come out en masse to support the semi-finalists and encourage the young players.
The winner of the tournament will represent Yobe State at the North-East regional qualifiers, while the national finals of the championship will be held in Lagos later this year.