By: Chinedum Ohanusi
The Zonal Preliminaries of the 2025 edition of the Barrister Nyesom Wike FCT School Sports Festival, entered Day 3 today with the semifinals, and finals of more events to be decided, at the eight designated centres.
Yesterday was Day 2, and our reporters at virtually all the centres, brought back reports of some keenly contested encounters, in ball games.
From the AMAC Centre, located at the Government Secondary School (GSS) Garki; Olukayode Babatunde reports that GSS Gwarimpa defeated GSS Tundun Wada 1-Nil, in football for Senior Boys; in the second match at the same level and venue, MSS Maitama lost 0-1 to GSS Gwarimpa Estate.
In football for Senior Girls, GSS Garki trashed GSS Apo 3-0; GSS Mabushi conceded four times, and lost 0-4 to ADSS Maitama, which proceeded to the next round of the prelims.
In Handball for Senior Boys, GSS Garki defeated Winners Academy 3-2; Just like the Girls team of GSS Garki trounced Winners Academy Girls 5-1.
And in Handball.(Girls) LEA Zone 5 lost 0-2 to LEA Primary School Kpadna, in the Primary Schools category.
Today, ADSS Maitama will test the might of MSS Maitama in the Boys Handball final, that’s after topping their respective groups.
Speaking with reporters at the venue (KFM Sports) after the conclusion of the events, the Zonal Coordinator of the Center Mr. Jimoh Eneye, who is also a Deputy Director Department of School Sports in the FCT, said he was pleased with the progress made so far, at the centre.
“Yesterday was hectic being the first day but we thank God that today went well, and according to plan”.
Mr. Eneye further expressed confidence that the school sports fiesta will serve its purpose, as envisioned by the Minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike.
“The purpose of reviving the fiesta after 28 years in the doldrum is to set the platform where we can catch them young. We want to get younger athletes that will represent FCT at future Youth Games, and the National Sports Festival as well. So, we did it last year, we are doing it now and we believe that the objectives will be achieved”.
Football, Handball, volleyball, basketball, table tennis and Badminton are the six games taking place at the Garki Center, and the zonal finalists, or outright winners, will go on to compete with their peers, at the FCT finals.
Meanwhile, our reporter at the GSS Kubwa centre, Emmanuel Chidiaka listed Football and Volleyball as the two events that featured prominently, on Tuesday.
In Senior Boys football, GSS Kubwa defeated Total Child Academy Kubwa 4-0; GDSS Dutse secured their place in the final with a 1-0 win, against GSS Jibi; and JSS Baupma lost to 0-2 to JSS Dutse Alhaji.
In Senior Girls football
Government Day Secondary School (GDSS) Dutse drew 1-1 with GSS Kubwa.
There was also action in Primary Schools Boys football, where
LEA Primary School Kagini drew 1-1 against LEA Primary School Gyadana.
