Israeli Embassy Partners Amokachi Foundation To Promote Football In FCT

The Embassy of the State of Israel in Nigeria has partnered with the Daniel Amokachi Foundation to host a football tournament in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), aimed at nurturing young talent and fostering unity across the nation.

This inaugural tournament concluded on Sunday at the LEA Primary School pitch in Wuse Zone 6, commemorating former Israeli footballer and Nigeria’s first coach, Moshe “Jerry” Beit Halevi, who managed the team from 1961 to 1962.

The tournament showcased thrilling matches from teams across the six Area Councils of the FCT, culminating in Team Gwarimpa defeating Team Life Camp 3-0 in the final. They were awarded a trophy along with a cash prize of N1 million, while Team Life Camp received N500,000 for their runner-up finish.

All participating teams were awarded a consolation cash prize of N500,000, underscoring the tournament’s role as a platform for talent identification in the capital.

Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, remarked, “This tournament goes beyond sport; it celebrates friendship, acknowledges our shared history, and reaffirms the growing bond between Nigeria and Israel. Football has a unique power to unite us.”

Freeman praised Daniel Amokachi for his commitment to making the tournament a success, expressing hope that it marks the beginning of further collaborative initiatives between Nigeria and Israel in sports.

Gbenga Elegbeleye, Chairman of the Nigerian Premier League Football, who attended as a special guest, noted the tournament’s significance for football development in Nigeria and stated his intention to engage with coaches in the league to scout talent from the event in future editions.

Amokachi, affectionately known as “The Bull,” highlighted the tournament’s focus on discovering talent through street football, affirming that “football is found in the ghetto.”

He expressed gratitude to the Israeli embassy for facilitating the event and indicated plans to make it an annual occurrence, potentially expanding to other parts of the country.