Memories are still fresh after the dramatic finish at the finals of the Tarka Local Government Silver Jubilee Cup competition in Benue State, North-Central Nigeria where the best of talents in the area were on display.
Thousands of sports lovers watched as City Boys FC came from a goal down at stoppage time to equalise and then go ahead to win the trophy on penalties that were saved by the goalkeepers except the winning goal.
It was three weeks of action for five teams playing in a league format that drew crowd of spectators to every match played at the LGEA Central Primary School Wannune, in the local government headquarters.
Organiser of the tournament and development journalist, Terverr Tyav Aboh says with the success of the Silver Jubilee Cup, the football competition will be made an annual event to celebrate the creation of the Local Government with the finals to be played on December 8 of every year. He added that he looks forward to the building of a stadium in the Local Government headquarters in the coming years when he wins the Gboko-Tarka Federal Constituency seat in 2023.
Highpoints of the day were the presentation of medals and cash prizes to the first, second and third place teams and players who distinguished themselves. The ceremony which was performed by the current and former Council Chairmen also had the cutting of the 25th anniversary cake by Emmanuel Iortyer, Peter Ujila, Samuel Atsuku, Aondohemba Tange and elder statesman, Yimam Aboh. The current Council Chairman, Juliana Suswam Suemo was represented by the Supervisory Councillor for Youths and Sports, Silas Tarnongu Terver.
The first match of the competition which was played on November 14, 2021 between Ankunguiyol FC of Asukunya and Nativitas FC of Tarhembe was watched by the pioneer Sole Administrator of the Council, Dr. John Allagh and two other former Council Chairmen, Samuel Atsuku and Phelim Ukeyima Manger who was in the company of his wife.
Aboh had earlier said that though he is interested in the Gboko-Tarka Federal Constituency seat in 2023, the competition is not to promote his ambition but to unite the people from all political divides behind the unity, peace and development of the local government. ait.live observed that there were no party symbols displayed or political slogans promoted throughout the duration of the tournament.
Tarka Local Government Area was created on December 8, 1996 by the military administration of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
