Enugu goes gay, as Etisalat U-15 School Cup begins

The festive mood that has engulfed Enugu since Rangers International beat El Kanemi Warriors to win the NPFL title for the first time in 30 years has gone a notch higher since the Etisalat U-15 School Cup train hit the ‘Coal City’ on Monday.

It is the South-South and South-East zones regional play offs, but Enugu soccer fans see it as more than a mere football competition involving secondary school students. The dancing and drumming that have enveloped the city since the teams arrived indicates a people that love their game.

After two successful regional play-offs in Ibadan, Oyo State and Ilorin, Kwara State respectively, the Etisalat U-15 School Cup train headed for the popular Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, where budding stars from schools in the two zones are battling for the two slots available for the national finals billed for November in Lagos.

In the opening game of the tournament, Holy Foundation Secondary School, representing Ebonyi State, lost 0-3 to their Anambra State counterpart, St. John’s Science and Technology College, Alor. The second match between Owerri City School representing Imo State and New Layout Secondary School, Enugu State team, ended in 1-1 draw.

Before the matches began, the Etisalat team had paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Sports and Youth development as well as the Ministry of Education where the Manager, Sponsorships, Etisalat Nigeria, Orah Egwu, disclosed that the football competition is part of innovative platforms by Etisalat to impact the lives of our youths.

Enugu State Coordinator, National School Sports Federation (NSSF), Samuel Okwor, commended Etisalat for the laudable initiative and called on other corporate organisations to emulate the company.