…As State finalists emerge
The National finals of the Principal’s Cup earlier scheduled for April 1- 5 will now take place from March 27- 31.
Chairman of the main organizing committee, Dr Ademola Are, said: “This change became necessary as we do not want distractions for the students writing their exams. The exams of the students must be given priority; we don’t want the matches too close to their exams so that they can concentrate.
“Sports and education must go side-by-side and we want to always strike the right balance.”
Meanwhile, champions have emerged in most of the states as the event gathers momentum nationwide.
Kwara State was among the first to conclude the football event with Thomas Adewunmi Comprehensive College (TAICO) defeating Lasoju Comprehensive High School, Ilorin, by a lone goal in the final played on Wednesday morning at the Ilorin Township Stadium.
TAICO secured a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Government High School, Ilorin with Kamaldeen Jelili scoring a brace with the other goals from Abdulganiyu Ibrahim and Abdulwahab Muktar completing the routing.
In Niger State, Zarumai Model School, Minna secured a 1-0 pipping of Day Secondary School, Maitube at the Maryam Babaginda Secondary School Minna play ground to secure a place in the zonal finals.
Zarumai had defeated Day Secondary School, Tunga, 2-1 in the first semi final, while Day Secondary School, Maitube, dispatched Day Secondary School, Bosso by 3 goals to 2.
In the South East, Government Secondary School, Afipko, secured their zonal finals place in Ebonyi State following a 1-0 defeat of St. Michael’s Seminary School, Oshiri, in the state finals on Wednesday. Government Day Secondary School, Unguwar Gwaza, will represent Zamfara State at the zonal finals in Jos after trouncing Government Day Secondary School, Sambo 4-1 to emerge the State champion.
In Gombe State, Government Secondary School, Pantami defeated Government Arabic College to emerge Gombe State champions.
Action shifts to Lagos, Abuja, Osun, Taraba, Jigawa and other states on Thursday, March 12, where the finals will take place.
There will also be action in table Tennis and Athletics as schools slug it out for a place in the zonal finals culminating in the National finals in Abuja.
Meanwhile, the nation may just have discovered a new predator for its football in Simeon Zakari who pumped in a whopping 5 goals in Folsa Academy 11-1 pounding of Government Science and Technical College in their quarter final encounter in Abuja.