By Dave Okpogadie, Asaba
There is an upward review of the cash prize for the 2019/2020 edition of Zenith Bank Delta Principals’ Cup.
This was disclosed by the commissioner For Basic Education in the state, Chief Patrick Ukah while briefing journalists in Asaba on the commencement of the 2019/2020 edition of the tournament.
The commissioner also revealed that as a result of the increase in the sponsorship prize, cash prizes would be given at local government level.
He explained that the matches would be spread across the state as much as possible but proximity to the teams involved in the matches, would also be a determining factor.
Chief Ukah said no fewer than 1000 schools are expected to participate in this year’s competition against about 700 schools that participated in the last edition.
The commissioner, who,said school sports is a spring board to launch young talents into greater sportsmen, also revealed that the age limit for the Principal’s Cup is 16 years, adding that camping would be organized for the best players.
For the primary school categories, the commissioner said the Headmasters’ Cup would also attract more government attention in order to improve it so t the children can compete in the Channels’ Kids Cup.
He appreciated his predecessor in the Basic Education Ministry, Mr Chiedu Ebie, now the secretary to the state government under whose watch the competitions commenced.
Chief Ukah also thanked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his passion which has made everything possible.
“I sincerely acknowledge my predecessor, Mr Chiedu Ebie, now the secretary to the state government, for his clear and highly professional approach to ensuring that this synergy between Delta State government and Zenith Bank was consummated resulting in the resuscitation of Delta State Principals’ Cup now christened Zenith Bank Delta Principals’ Cup Football Competition.”
Chief Ukah commended and thanked the management of Zenith Bank for sustaining the sponsorship and for identifying with the government to promote school sports in the state.
In his own remarks at the occasion, branch head of Zenith Bank, Dickson Egede, thanked the state government for the existing cordial relationship between them.He expressed the bank’s expectations to see a keen competition from the various schools, noting that the bank had been impressed with the previous editions of the tournament.
It was revealed by the Technical Committee of the competition that some of the players of the previous tournaments were already playing football in Europe and America due to the efforts put in place to harness their talents.
Mr Lucky Sunday, who is the chairman of the Technical Committee, also revealed that the department would ensure proper age screening.
Kick-off of this year’s edition, which is the fourth of it, is on Monday 30th September, 2019 at St. Patrick’s College, Asaba.
