Ex- international, Coach Sam Elijah and coaches – Bashiru Hassan, Abiola Olatunji and Babangida Isah- have commended organisers of the 37th edition of the annual YSFON Ramat Cup presently going on at the Mahaha play Field Kano State; saying the competition has lived up to expectation.
Elijah, a member of Saudi 1989 U-20 World Cup team and presently YSFON Kwara State Team Director, noted that as a product of youth tournament, he is happy that Kano State Government has been consistent in sponsoring the championship for the past 10 years noting that the tournament has helped in taking youths away from crime and social vices and should be sustained.
Elijah while advising the players to maintain their level of discipline throughout the duration of the week-long championship, promised that his state will improve on their third position in 2018 and emerge winner of the tournament this year.
In his own remark, Abiola Olatunji who is the leader of Oyo State team and has served as YSFON coach for more than 20 years noted that the tournament is very encouraging with an appeal to the sponsors not to relent with the good work they are doing in grassroots sports development through Ramat Cup.
Team leader of Kebbi State, Babangida Isah expressed happiness that many youths have through the championship played for the various national teams while some are doing well in Europe just as he commended Kano State Government for it’s consistency in sponsoring the competition.
Meanwhile in some of the matches played in the tournament Kwara played a 1-1 draw with Kaduna in the opening match while in Day 2, Osun and Taraba played goalless, Rivers defeated the host state, Kano 3-1, Oyo and Bauchi settled for a 1-1 draw while Ekiti defeated Sokoto 2-0.
In Day 3 of the competition, Zamfara lost 0-1 to Ogun, Kano walked over Jigawa, while Rivers defeated Zamfara 4-0 with Sokoto walking over FCT just as Ekiti lost 0-2 to Kogi.
Also, Sokoto defeated Adamawa by a lone goal, Niger whitewashed Plateau 5-0, Kebbi beat Plateau 3-0, Niger lost 2-4 to Oyo while Kwara defeated Taraba 4-1 with Kaduna beating Osun 4-0.
The competition continues today with Taraba taking on Kaduna, Edo will square up against Kwara, Kogi is to meet Sokoto, Ekiti will play Adamawa just as FCT will taste the might of Kogi.
Tuesday will be observed as rest day while quarter- final matches will be decided on Wednesday at the Kano Pillars Stadium.
