Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development in Nasarawa State, Amb. Lucky Isaac Yargwa, is in Benin City, Edo State, on behalf of the Government and people of Nasarawa State to lend support to the State’s women’s football club, Nasarawa Amazons, who are participating at the ongoing 2021/22 Nigeria Women’s Football League Premiership Super Six tournament.
Amb. Yargwa who was accompanied by the Senior Special Assistants to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Youth Development and Sports Affairs, Comrades Shuaibu Sani and Hamza Moyi Awe, was in ecstatic mood when a first-half brace from Amarachi Okoronkwo saw Nasarawa Amazons beat Naija Ratels 2-0 in a rescheduled game decided at the Sports Complex of University of Benin on Saturday afternoon, to firm their title chase ambitions.
In his words, the Commissioner stated that everyone in Nasarawa State was proud of the performance of the State-owned team at the Super Six Tournament, disclosing that better rewards await them if they emerge champions of the tournament.
“I am here with a few delegation on behalf of my principal, the Executive Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule who said I should convey his congratulations and best wishes to you at this tournament.
“We should have been here earlier than this if not for the delay in our flight schedules.
“We have been following up on all your games and I must say everyone is so proud of the level you have attained and aiming for.
“Today’s result against Naija Ratels is a huge moral booster ahead of your final match against Bayelsa Queens who are also title contenders on Sunday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, and we believe it will end in your favour because you have shown character and finesse to win every game in this tournament.
“In addition, I must commend both the Hajiya Hussaina Suleiman-led management and coaching staff of our darling club for the amazing job they are doing which is projecting us and the State in the right perspective among the comity of football-playing States in Nigeria and beyond.
“In a way to motivate you, we as a Government will reward any goal scored in this tournament by any player of our team with the cash sum of Fifty Thousand Naira(₦50,000) while whoever assists the goal will get Twenty Thousand Naira(₦20,000) as well.
“This, we hope, will help to trigger the hunger for more goals. However, it should not be seen as an avenue to be selfish on the ball – you have to work as a team to achieve your goals and aspirations.
“But rest assured that there will be so many mouthwatering packages from the Governor and State Government for you when you bring the Super Six trophy home.”
While describing sport as a vital tool for national cohesion and job creation for the youth, the Commissioner called on Government at all levels to invest adequate resources on sports.
He equally called on the Aisha Falode-led Board of the Nigeria Women’s Football League to continue to initiate programmes and policies that would fast-track the development of women’s football in Nigeria and make it more lucrative and competitive for more investments to come in.
Today’s result sees Nasarawa Amazons moving to 2nd position with nine points, three points behind table-topping Bayelsa Queens, and would need a convincing victory with large goal margins against the 2021 Aiteo Federation Cup winners to be crowned champions.
The Super Six Tournament is the final hurdle to determine eventual champions of the 2021/22 abridged Nigeria Women’s Football League Premiership Season and the ticket bearers for Nigeria at the Confederation of African Football Champions League, women’s category.
*Eche Amos*
PRO,
Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
21/05/2022