Get Guardian on GoogleOjo Alaba International Main Market’s Olojo Drive FC emerged champions of the United Nigeria Airlines Ndigboamaka Traders Cup after defeating United Allied Spare Parts Dealers Association (UASPDA) FC on penalties in the final at the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium, Lagos.
The final ended 2-2 in regulation time before Olojo Drive secured victory in the ensuing penalty shootout to claim the trophy.
The competition’s grand finale, held on Saturday, also featured a novelty match in which the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) football team defeated Ndigboamaka All Stars 1-0.
Beyond the football, United Nigeria Airlines announced a special travel package for members of the Ndigboamaka Traders Association, aimed at supporting business travel and the movement of goods.
The tournament brought together teams representing markets affiliated with the association, which has 54 member markets across Lagos State.
Earlier, Cooling Parts Dealers Association (COPDAS FC) secured third place after defeating Computer Village FC in another penalty shootout. Their encounter ended 1-1 in regulation time before COPDAS emerged victorious from the spot.
The novelty fixture between Ndigboamaka All Stars and the Nigeria Customs Service team also attracted attention.
Customs won the match 1-0, completing a day of football involving traders and representatives of the government agency.
The competition was organised to encourage interaction among traders from different markets and provide opportunities for sporting participation outside their regular commercial activities.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of United Nigeria Airlines, Osita Okonkwo, said the airline’s involvement reflected its interest in supporting activities that encourage interaction among communities and businesses.
According to Okonkwo, the company has supported the tournament for two years because its objectives align with the airline’s emphasis on connecting people across different parts of the country.
He said sports could provide social, economic and health benefits, particularly when competitions bring together participants from different professional and community backgrounds.
Okonkwo explained that the sponsorship also provided an opportunity for the airline to engage traders who regularly travel for business.
He said improved connectivity could help businesses expand their operations beyond their immediate locations.
The airline, he added, was interested in partnerships with organisations whose activities encouraged economic growth and interaction across regions.
Okonkwo also disclosed that United Nigeria Airlines had developed a special travel package for members of the Ndigboamaka Traders Association.
He said the initiative was intended to support small and medium-sized enterprises by making travel and the movement of goods more convenient.
The airline currently serves 16 destinations within Nigeria, according to Okonkwo, who said the company was working towards expanding its domestic network.
He argued that improved air connectivity could create opportunities for traders to establish business relationships in other parts of the country.
For businesses that depend on regular movement between commercial centres, access to transport services can influence delivery schedules, market access and operating costs.
Okonkwo said the company’s longer-term objective was to improve connectivity between regions and support the movement of people and commercial activities.
He thanked the association for maintaining its relationship with the airline and expressed hope that the partnership would continue.
The President of the Ndigboamaka Traders Association, Chinedu Ukatu, described the tournament as an initiative intended to strengthen relationships among members.
He said the competition provided an opportunity for traders from different markets to interact through sports rather than allow disagreements to affect their relationships.
The tournament is in its third edition and has become an established activity within the association.
He said the organisers intended to sustain the competition beyond changes in the association’s leadership.
Ukatu also disclosed plans to extend participation to traders in other states, with the possibility of developing a larger competition in subsequent editions.
He said the association wanted the tournament to create opportunities for talented footballers who might wish to pursue careers in the sport.
According to him, standout players could be recommended to football clubs for possible sponsorship or further development.
The association also planned cash prizes for participating players.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, who was represented at the event by Timothy Worusen, Deputy Comptroller (Administration), Federal Operations Unit Zone A, said the service remained committed to facilitating legitimate trade.
He encouraged traders to approach customs commands for clarification on importation requirements and prohibited goods.
According to him, improved communication between traders and customs officials could help businesses understand applicable regulations and avoid violations.
Worusen also explained that the service works with other government agencies when dealing with seized goods that fall within their areas of responsibility.
He said cases involving arms and ammunition, drugs and regulated food products were referred to the appropriate authorities.
The Customs representative welcomed the opportunity for interaction between officers and traders outside routine enforcement activities.
He also celebrated the NCS football team’s victory in the novelty match.
According to him, the service wanted traders to see customs officials as accessible and willing to provide guidance on legitimate commercial activities.
With the third edition of the Ndigboamaka Traders Cup concluded, organisers plan to extend the competition beyond Lagos. Such expansion would require additional arrangements covering venues, team participation, sponsorship and tournament administration.
The involvement of United Nigeria Airlines also reflects the growing relationship between corporate sponsorship and community-based sporting competitions.
For the airline, the event provided an opportunity to engage a business community that could benefit from improved transport connections.
For the traders, it offered a chance to compete, interact and explore opportunities beyond their regular commercial activities.
With the latest edition concluded, attention will turn to the association’s plans for future tournaments and the implementation of the travel package announced by its airline partner.
