It appears new grassroots champions emerge every year in the Anniversary Cup football competition in Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State since the inaugural edition in 2021 with all the final matches also decided on penalties.
This year, Tarka Youths Stars Football Club of Wannune lifted the trophy after defeating City Boys Football Club of Wannune 4-1 on penalties following goalless draw at regulation time. It will be recalled that City Boys FC of Wannune were the pioneer winners of the tournament at the expense of Tarka Youths Stars Football Club three years ago.
After the month-long exciting competition that had 10 grassroots teams compete for honours, the defending champions, Nativitas FC of Tarhembe only managed to clinch the Third Place position against new comers, Melai Academy.
Abuja-based journalist and organiser of the tournament, Terverr Tyav says the emergence of new champions every year shows the competitiveness of the game among the young grassroots talents that are not being harnessed by the country.
The Anniversary Cup is organised annually to celebrate the creation of Tarka Local Council which was among the last set of Local Government Areas in the country created by the military on December 8, 1996, and recognised by the 1999 Constitution.
