Players and officials of Marvel International School,
Ughelli with the overall winners’ trophy of the Zenith/Delta Principals’ Cup
football Competition after beating St Paul College 6-5 on penalties… at the
2018 Edition
The Delta State Principals’ Cup Football Competition
sponsored by Zenith Bank will enter its business end from January 21 with the
zonal elimination series, the organisers have revealed.
This year’s edition is the third in the series since the
tournament was revived in 2017 by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa with support from
Zenith Bank.
After the preliminary stage played at all the 25 local councils
in the state, 26 teams emerged to compete in the elimination series in 10 zones
across the state.
Head of the organizing team, Tony Pemu added that eight
quarterfinalists will merge from the zonal event holding from January 21 to 25,
with three teams in each of the zones and just one expected to emerge as
champions.
Pemu said: “The school sports festival takes place between
January 15 and 18 and that is why the zonal event is starting on January 21.
All logistics are in place and before the last day of January, we would have
been through with the zonal stage and the quarterfinal ties.
“We will enter February with four semifinalists and we are
yet to determine dates for the final stages due to the elections and other
matters that could affect the schedule of Governor Okowa.
“On our part, we are working hard to get the teams ready for
this crucial stage.”
Meanwhile, the Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Peter
Amangbo has charged the organisers to work toward ensuring a true winner
emerges at the end of proceedings.
“We are noted for integrity and that is why we want the best
from this competition. Fair play must prevail and a true winner is what we
desire so that our desire to raise future stars will remain on track,” Amangbo
said.
Pilgrims Baptist Grammar School, Issele Uku is the venue for
zone A in which Oshimiri North and Aniocha South councils will vie for honours
on January 21. Two days later Ika South and Aniocha South will vie for honours
at the same venue. Only one team will emerge from this zone.
The organisers are expected to come out with the dates and
venues for the final round of matches in the days ahead.
