Zenith Bank/ Delta Principals’ Cup: Over 1000 Schools Jostle For 25 Slots

The ongoing 2023 edition of the Delta State Principals’ Cup football competition which kicked off on October 19 is fast gathering momentum at the various local government areas in the state.

The developmental grassroots competition sponsored by Zenith Bank Plc is expected to produce one winner in each of the 25 LGA of Delta State and the battle has been intense in the past few days across the various centers in the state.

Some of the LGs are in the semifinal stage while some are in the final, according to the timeline, all LG representatives are expected to emerge by this weekend.

On Wednesday (yesterday), at the Ika North East local government, Ute Okpu Secondary School defeated Efizomor Mixed Secondary School 2-1 to book a place in the LG final to meet Owa Alero Secondary School that defeated Owa Oyibu Secondary School 3-2 on penalties after full time score stood at 0-0.

In the final match decided on Wednesday at the Uvwie LG, Opete secondary school defeated Urhobo College 5-4 on penalties to emerge the representative of the Uvwie LG in the zonal playoffs expected to start next week.

The CEO of Hideaplus, organisers of the competition, Tony Pemu, told our correspondent that the competition has been very interesting at the LGA level.

“Only one ticket is at stake in each of the 25 local governments and so it is tough. Some of the finals already decided ended in penalties just as we witnessed keen semi final contests across the centres but in the end only one team will emerge for us to draw the zonal preliminaries,” Pemu said.

The zonal matches are billed to take place later in November as all the 25 finalists from LGs will be known by Monday November 6.

Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba will host the final of the competition on November 30.