By Chigozie Chukwuleta
Team Anambra emerged champions of 2024 edition of the FC Bayern Youth Cup Nigeria tournament.
The Olive Charles Football Academy representing Anambra at the tournament held at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu defeated their Abuja counterpart 4-3 on penalties after a barren draw to cart home the trophy.
Captain of the side, Emeka Obikwelu who thanked God for His mercies attributed the victory to hard work, commitment and dedication.
“We worked hard and God crowned our efforts”, he said.
For the founder and sponsor of Olive Charles Football Academy, Amb. Charles Atuanya, the victory is icing on the cake of hardwork and passionate commitment to development of football at grassroot level for over a decade.
He said the trophy will change a lot of things in the lives of his boys and will motivate him to do more for young players.
Also speaking, the coach of Team Abuja, Mr Abdullahi Yahaya said that though his boys lost, they did a good.
According to him, the tournament is a development project with high standards and playing at the national level is not easy.
He thanked the organizers for providing such highly rated platform for young footballers.
Both teams have two of their players selected for team Nigeria.
Earlier before the presentation of certificates, Flying Eagles Coach, Dr Ladan Bosso enjoined the young footballers not to lose focus.
Also speaking, 1995 U-17 World Cup Champion and Bayern legend, Christian Saba encouraged them to continue working hard as they have potentials to be world beaters.
The tournament organized and sponsored by VOE Foundation is used annually since 2018 to select Nigeria’s representative at the FC Bayern World Youth Cup.
Nigeria is the current champion.
