National Grammar School Nike, Enugu has emerged winners of the Enugu leg of the 2015 edition of COPA Coca-Cola local championship.
National Grammar School defeated Community Secondary School (CSS) Ogbakwe, Enugu, 3-0 in a thrilling final game played at the Government Secondary School football pitch, Enugu.
The school won in the prestigious grassroots football tournament, themed “Everything for Football” and which featured over eight Secondary schools in Enugu including, Annunciation Secondary School, Enugu; Uwani Boys Secondary School, Enugu; College of Immaculate Conception, Enugu and Union Boys Secondary School, Enugu.
Other schools that competed at the Enugu tournament were, Government Secondary School, Enugu; New Layout Secondary School, Enugu; National Grammar School Nike, Enugu and Community Secondary School, Enugu, thereby attracting a more robust participation with larger spectators within the state.
For its feat, the winning school smiled home with the star prize of N200,000 cash prize, while the first-runners up, Community Secondary School (CSS) Ogbakwe, Enugu went home with a cash prize of N100,000 and a silver medal.
The second runners-up, Annunciation Secondary School, Enugu defeated College of The Immaculate Conception through a slim 1-0 pulsating match and received the sum of N50,000 and a bronze medal.
Other winners at the tournament included Rabiu Mohammed of Community Secondary School, who was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, Okunna Rapilchukwu of Annunciation Secondary School emerged the Best Goal Keeper while the Top Goal Scorer award was won by Nwachukwu Divine of National Grammar School Nike.
Speaking after the final match, Marketing Director, Coca-Cola, Patricia Jemibewon expressed satisfaction with the level of the tournament as well as the passion displayed by the teams in Enugu.
Jemibewon said: “Over eight Secondary schools began with us early this week in Enugu for this competition and our finalists displayed sheer artistry in the final match. Copa Coca-Cola is our own way of providing a platform to discover and mould budding talents for the country, continent and the world. It also helps young footballers to express their passion for the game and be rewarded for it.”
Commenting on the tournament, the Chairman, Udi Local Government, Enugu, Chinedu Iloeje, commended Coca-Cola for creating such platform for Secondary school students in the country.
Iloeje said: “I am delighted to witness this great rewarding initiative and happy that the quality of football watched during the match was high and the better school of the two finalists won and deserved the gold medal.”
The final match also attracted distinguished personalities including, Director, Public Relations Enugu Post Primary Schools Management Board, Enugu, Ngozi Okey; Sport Co-ordinator, Nigerian School Sports Federation, (NSSF), Mrs. Doroha Nkiru; Sport Co-ordinator, Enugu Zone, Barr. Patrick Eze and Deputy Director, Public Relations Enugu Post primary Schools Management Board, Enugu, Mr. Igboka Emmanuel.
COPA Coca-Cola portrays Coca-Cola’s belief in the potential of Nigerian teenagers to effect positive changes in the society despite economic and social challenges, creating a vision of unity through the country’s love for the beautiful game.
The initiative which is currently attracting 1.3 million teens, which are competing in over 60 countries, will climax with a six-day International Camp in Berlin, Germany, featuring over 100 footballing teens from around the world, including players from Nigeria.
