Donastars FC fight back to win NDDC U-17 Cup

• Bayelsa to host 2023 edition Donastars FC of Abia State came from 0-2 goals down with barely few minutes to stoppage time to get an equaliser and go on to clinch the second edition of the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) U-17 Peace Football Championship on Sunday.

Playing in an all-Abia State final against El-Godz FC at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta State, Donastars FC shocked the spectators with their football display to emerge champions.

In the third place match played earlier, Campus FC of Imo State defeated Ine Stars of Edo State 1-0, thereby, following the footsteps of another Imo team, Sam Decent Academy, which finished in third position at the first edition held in Akwa Ibom State last year.

Donastars FC of Abia were rewarded with N5 million for emerging as champions, El-Godz FC got N3 million for finishing second, while Campus FC went home with N2 million as the third best team.

The Most Valuable Player of the tournament went to the captain of Campus FC of Imo, Chukwuemeka Prince, who, incidentally, was the youngest captain at the competition. Jida Justice of Ine Stars, Edo State, won the highest goal scorer award, after ending the tourney as joint top scorer with seven goals, but was awarded for scoring first, ahead of Odoemena Pope of El-Godz FC of Abia, who was also presented with a medal for his performance.

Goalkeeper Solomon Agoziem of Campus FC of Imo won the Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament, with Kifa FC of Ondo emerging as the Best Behaved Team, while the youngest player of the tournament award went to Cyril Eta of Safe Side FC of Cross River, who is just 11 years old.

Presenting the trophy to the winners, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana O. Umana, commended Grassroots Sports