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Tag: Ramat Cup

  • Ramat Cup: FCT Takes Home Trophy, Defeated Kano 1-0

    Ramat Cup: FCT Takes Home Trophy, Defeated Kano 1-0

    By Mike Oboh

    Emotions ran high on Saturday immediately after the referee’s final whistle that signalled the end of the 2022 Ramat Cup U-16 final match in Kano State

    The final of the competition organised by the Youth Sports Federation Of Nigeria (YSFON) was between the host Kano State and their FCT counterparts

    The Atmosphere was electric and Kano fans thronged into the Sani Abacha Stadium with unequalled enthusiasm,

    Although FCT had pockets of supporters, little did they know that the trophy will be heading to Abuja

    The Kano youth team who were full of expectations, truly gave a good account of themselves, given the convincing results they earned in the preliminary stages

    The display by the host team took away the confidence of the Abuja boys as Kano dictated the game but could not score the much needed goal

    Half time ended goalless and the FCT got back their guts and became stronger in the second half.
    Despite the antics and Frustrating approach by the home team, FCT broke the deadlock and that ended the story.
    The match ended 1-0 in favour of FCT

    The third place match had it’s own peculiarities.Giant killing Ogun team again experienced the bitter taste of defeat when their highly technical match ended 2-0 in favour of Gombe

    The outcome of the encounter gave a soothing consolation to the northern team who narrowly lost the semi finals 4-3 to Kano on penalties after 2-2 draw

    While declaring the competition close, YSFON’s National President Dr Nasiru Gawuna appreciated the players and officials who took time out to be part of the competition.

    He said plans are underway to involve the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to expose the talented players discovered to different competitions and provide a leeway for them to realise their dreams

    In the athletics event Kaduna state dominated the races winning the 100 metres and the 4×100 metres relay while Kano also made the needed difference

    In all,the week long Competition endeared Nigerian youths to themselves and promoted a deep sense of friendship while creating a veritable opportunity for the improvement of the nation’s profile through sports.

  • Ramat Cup: Tension Everywhere, Kwara Out As Ogun Rewrite History Books

    Ramat Cup: Tension Everywhere, Kwara Out As Ogun Rewrite History Books

    By Mike Oboh
    It was a day many football fans wouldn’t forget in a hurry. A day the YSFON organised Ramat Cup competition produced unbelievable upsets

    On a “cold hot” afternoon in Kano and quarter final pairings like no other. The National U-16 Defending Champions Kwara, the darling of Kano football fans couldn’t live up to expectations. Despite the high rating they crumbled like a pack of cards losing 2-0 to the host Kano State

    Although the match generated a lot of tension the fans couldn’t believe their eyes but resigned to fate and left the stadium disappointed

    In the other match, highly rated Jigawa team also failed to live up to expectations. Pundits had predicted an easy win for Jigawa going by their pedigree only for Gombe to prove everyone wrong by beating them 3-1

    The FCT team fought the battle of their lives to remain in contention. They came from behind to beat Kebbi 3-1 on penalties after an excruciating and breath taking 2-2 draw in regulation time.

    The unbelievable upset of the day was the result of the game between Ogun and Kaduna

    Kaduna were 3 goals up and their fans thought it was all over and started celebrating The second half turned otherwise, Ogun fought back to equalise 3-3 on the dot of time

    Surprisingly the Dapo Abiodun babes carried the day 10-9 on penalties The outcome is still generating arguments in and around Kano metropolis

    YSFON’s Technical Director Abdulgafar Agboola also couldn’t hide his emotions, he says fans should expect more upsets on Friday during the semi finals matches

    In the semi finals, Ogun will again pray for another luck when they trade tackle with FCT, while Kano play Gombe.

    The icing on the Cake will be the YSFON President’s athletics competition coming up on Saturday during the final game at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

    No doubt the excitement is at its peak as even the visiting scouts are having a field day

  • Ramat Cup: Nasarawa, Rivers Disappoint As Kaduna, Ogun Qualify For Quarter- Final

    Ramat Cup: Nasarawa, Rivers Disappoint As Kaduna, Ogun Qualify For Quarter- Final

    By Mike Oboh

    It was a tale of the unexpected on Wednesday as some players wept uncontrollably following their misfortune of not making it to the quarter-finals of the 39th edition of the Ramat Cup U-16 boys tournament holding in the ancient city of Kano

    With the die hard and winner-takes-all attitude of the teams, it was obvious that every team had their destiny in their hands

    The Kaduna U-16 team continued their high scoring performance at the Mahaha Sports complex beating Adamawa State 10-1, the highest scoreline ever recorded in the history of the competition

    Nasarawa U-16 team were most disappointing.
    despite full government backing, they could not go beyond the group Stage.They drew goalless with Rivers State, 2-2 with Zamfara,then lost 2-1 to Kano

    For the Defending Champions Kwara State, it was a mixed bag of experience.They started on a promising note by defeating Ekiti 3-0, Bauchi 3-0 then drew 1-1 with FCT and goalless with Yobe.
    Although they still qualified, but their fans were somewhat unhappy because they expected more from them

    Ogun state is the only southern team still in race after Ekiti,Abia and Rivers were unable to scale through. Ogun defeated Katsina 2-0, Plateau 3-0 and Benue 2-1.

    With 9 points, the Dapo Abiodun babes are looking forward to better outing against Kaduna in their Quarter-finals game on Thursday

    In other quarter-final matches, Kebbi will face FCT, while Kwara confront Kano and Gombe to settle Scores with Jigawa

    All the matches will take place at the Kano Pillars Stadium in Sabon Gari on Thursday

    As the competition gets tougher and more challenging, the National President of YSFON and Deputy Governor of Kano State Dr Nasiru Gawuna has advised the participating teams to be patriotic and continue to work hard, so they can bring honour to their fatherland

  • Goal feast in Kano as Gombe, Sokoto outplay Kaduna, Adamawa in Ramat Cup tourney

    Goal feast in Kano as Gombe, Sokoto outplay Kaduna, Adamawa in Ramat Cup tourney

    By Mike Oboh

    True to prediction, fans of youth football got more than what they bargined for on Tuesday as participating teams in this year’s Ramat Cup tournament gave a very good account of themselves on Day 3

    39 goals were scored by the various teams at the.Mahaha Sports complex in Kano, as they become desperate to make the quarter-finals stage

    Gombe U-16 team that won their first match 2-0 against Adamawa on Monday, were ruthless against Kaduna scoring 5 unreplied goals
    They now have 6 points from 2 matches.

    Sokoto that lost 3-1 to Kaduna on Sunday fought back strongly to defeat Adamawa 4-0. With 3 points in their kitty, the Tambuwal Babes say they are ready against Gombe, in their Wednesday’s encounter

    Defending Champions Kwara got a scare of their lives also on Tuesday when they were held to a 1-1 draw by FCT but later made up with a formidable display against Bauchi that they defeated 3-0 in their next match
    Kwara now have 7 points and will now play Yobe for the quarter-finals ticket, since they won their opening game 3-0 against Rivers State.

    The shocking result of the day was the defeat of the host team Kano. They lost 1-0 to their kebbi counterparts but later defeated Zamfara 2-0 to ease qualification tension. They however need to complete their efforts with a win against Nasarawa on Wednesday to move into quarter-finals
    Jigawa and Abia have a heculean task ahead of them. They must beat Ogun and Sokoto respectively to be guaranteed a chance in the quarter-finals

    In Wednesday’s matches Katsina will play Plateau, while Kaduna take on Adamawa. It will be Bauchi versus Yobe and Ekiti against FCT amongst Others

    The excitement is really infectious and everybody is getting consumed.
    The YSFON organised Football tournament is truly yielding the desired dividend but stakeholders warn that except Nigerian football authorities maximize the gains of grassroots development,the nation will continue to lag behind in world football

  • YSFON Ramat Cup International Kano 2022; Kwara trash Ekiti to begin title defence

    YSFON Ramat Cup International Kano 2022; Kwara trash Ekiti to begin title defence

    By Mike Oboh

    The Kwara State representative at the 39th Edition of YSFON Ramat Cup International in Kano the Kwara Football Academy (KFA), began their title defence on Monday by defeating Ekiti State team 3-0 at the group B opening match, in the group which has Kwara, Ekiti, FCT, Yobe and Bauchi States.

    By this victory, Kwara top group B table with three points, three goals and to face other teams in the group as the competition progresses.

    The 2022 Edition of the competition which has twenty (20) states in participation has in group A-Kano, Rivers, Kebbi and Nasarawa states, in group C- Benue, Jigawa, Plateau, and Ogun states while group D has Adamawa, Gombe, Abia, Kaduna and Sokoto staes.

    In other results, in group A- Kebbi vs Nasarawa ended 1-1 draw, Jigawa vs Plateau played 3 – 0 and the match between Kaduna and Sokoto ended 3-1 in favour of Kaduna State.

    Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Coach Bola Adisa Mogaji had charged the team to be good ambassadors of Kwara by being discipline in and out of the field of play and also to bring back the trophy to the state. He reminded them that His Excellency, Mall. Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq had invested so much in sports especially at the grassroots. He also informed the team that the governor had special interest in their participation in Kano as one of the grassroots sports development strategies of his administration, being the reasons he approved all travelling logistics and budgets for the team.

    The Executive Chairman said this while giving the team executive farewell to Kano before they departed Ilorin on Friday 10th February, 2022.

    In attendance at the briefing were the Administrator/Chief Executive KFA Mall. I. O. Bako, Chairman Kwara YSFON Mall. Ademola Kiyesola, YSFON Secretary Ayinde Wahab and some prominent Kwara Sport Stakeholders.

    Ramat Cup International is organised by the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) and it is the oldest grassroots football organised competition in Nigeria.

  • Ramat Cup kicks off February 12

    Ramat Cup kicks off February 12

    By Mike Oboh

    The 39th edition of Ramat Cup for under 16 and the YSFON’s President under 16 Athletic championship will hold in Kano from 12-19 February this year.

    The Ramat Cup organized by the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria(YSFON) is held annually in honour late former Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, who was killed in a military coup in 1976.

    The competition is sponsored annually by Kano State Government to keep remembering the late leader for his patriotic role towards the development of the country.

    According to the YSFON organising Secretary, Abdulrazak Usman, players and officials from the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory are expected to arrive the state on the 12/2/22 for the commencement of the competition which will kick off the next day.

    Usman said the Federation highly appreciated the state government under the able leadership of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for the state support to YSFON to carry out the competition all these years.

    He said the federation under the leadership of Dr Nasiru Yusif Gawuna, who is also serving Kano State as the deputy Governor, has not only attain greater height in its quest for success but is still targeting to continue to ride in flying colours towards the development of its set goals for the younger generations in the country.

    He said the body’s president cup for athletic will also take place during the competition.

    He said the states will compete in 100metres and relay races in 400*100 and 400*4 metres on the final day of the competition.

    He said the Federation was ever ready to produce quality talents for the country.

    He urged the participants to always keep in mind the need for discipline throughout the competition.

  • Kwara wins Ramat Cup

    Kwara wins Ramat Cup

    …As Daniel Ayenugba emerges tournament goalkeeper

    By Mike Oboh, Kano

    Kwara state under 16 team on Friday emerged winners of this year’s Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) organised Ramat Cup tournament held in Kano.

    Kwara State defeated Oyo State 2-1 to retain the trophy at stake.

    The winners opened scores in the early minute of the game and made it two before the end of the first stanza of the encounter.

    Oyo however pulled one back in the late minutes of the game in a match watched by top government officials and military officers .

    Speaking after the match, Kwara state Technical Director, coach Sam Elijah said he was happy with the outcome of the game as they were able to retain the trophy they won last year.

    Elijah said the tournament has shown that the backbone of football development in Nigeria remains in the grassroot, as most of the players who participated in the tourney exhibited high sense of play which if encouraged will continue to place the country in the forefront of international reckoning.

    The Technical Director added the only sour taste in the competition was the absence of officials of the Nigeria Football Federation.

    He said the team will now work towards representing the country well in Sweden later in the year just as he was optimistic that most of the players in the team may be considered by foreign teams during the Sweden tournament.

    In the third place match, Bauchi defeated Ogun 3-0 after a goalless game in the ensured penalty kicks.

    Daniel Ayenugba, son of former Nigeria goalkeeper, Dele Ayenugba was voted the best goalkeeper of the tourney as Abubakar Isah from Kano state with 7 goals emerged the winner of the golden boot.

    The State governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who was represented by his deputy, Dr Yusuf Nasiru Gawuna, said the state will continue to support the development of sports from the grassroots in the country.

    Ganduje said the state will continue its support for YSFON to develop its programme in the country as it has shown that it has the ability to do so.

    In the athletics events, Alanmi Usman won the 400 metres race as Agbana Samuel of Ekiti and Faisal Yakubu from Bauchi picked the second and third position respectively, in the 200 metres, Bashir Mohammed from Kano picked the top position followed by Nurudeen Abubakar from Kebbi and Musa Usman from Bauchi for the silver and bronze.

    The Chief of Army Staff was represented by Brigadier General B.A Alabi while Air Commodore M.A Isah represented the Chief of Air Staff at the occasion.

  • Ramat Cup: Kwara, Oyo battle for trophy

    Ramat Cup: Kwara, Oyo battle for trophy

    By Mike Oboh

    Kwara state on Thursday advanced to the finals of the ongoing Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) organized Ramat Cup with a lone goal victory against Bauchi State.

    The encounter which was a repeat of  last year’s finals, which Bauchi lost with the same margin, saw the Kwara boys dominating the proceedings in the encounter.

    In the second semi final game, Oyo state sent out Ogun 2-1 to set the stage for the final clash against the defending champions, Kwara that will be decided at the Pillars stadium on Friday.

    Though Ogun recorded the first goal in the early minutes of the encounter, the Oyo team came into the game with a well-coordinated effort to even scores and got the winning goal to book their place in the final.

    Bauchi State and their Ogun counterpart slug will it out in the third place match before the Kwara boys confront Oyo for the trophy at stake.

    Speaking after the game, the chairman of YSFON,  Kwara state chapter, Adeola Keyisola said the target of the team was to retain the trophy.

    Keyisola said that the players have proved to be a good side, noting the development effort efforts of the state chapter have yielded the necessary results.

    He said the state has a development plan which allows for the participation in its programme by the 16 local government areas in the state.

    He however appealed to the State government to help solve the vehicular needs of the team, saying, “Our State was one of the first few states in the country to have a bus, and as it is now we are not in that category, so we need the support of the state government to resolve the issue, and I am hopeful if the players retain the trophy the state government will consider the team’s plight.”

    He added that YSFON in the state will continue to contribute to the development of the youths through sports in the State.

    Meanwhile, YSFON’s President, Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna has commended participating states for their conduct throughout the duration of the competition.

    He said the body will continue to provide the enabling environment for the youths to develop through sports in the country.

    He also commended the Kano State government under the able leadership of Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for the continued support for YSFON in its programme.    

  • Ramat Cup: Kwara crushes Kano to book semi final ticket

    Ramat Cup: Kwara crushes Kano to book semi final ticket

    ..as Ogun, Oyo squares up in S/West derby

    By Mike Oboh

    Defending champions Kwara state on Wednesday crushed Kano state 3-1 in the ongoing Ramat cup tournament to advanced to the semi finals of the competition.

    Kwara outplayed the host who were tagged tournament favourite because of their records in the group stage with a performance associated with a team ready to climb to the top.

    The winner’s Technical Director, Sam Elijah who spoke after the match, attributed their victory to determination and focus as they were aware it was a difficult task playing against the host.

    Elijah said that with the victory against Kano in the quarter finals, he was optimistic that the team will retain the trophy though the task ahead was still challenging.

    “We were worried when we got the quarter finals ticket to play against the host state, we challenged the players to see the game as the final before the final, and thank God they won the match, so looking forward I am optimistic that we are going to retain the trophy,” he said.

    In the other matches, Bauchi defeated Kebbi 2-0 ,Oyo won 2-1 against Sokoto while Ogun after a 1-1 draw against Gombe picked the semi final ticket as they carried the day in the ensured penalty kicks 3-2.

    In the semi finals that will be decided on Thursday inside the Pillars stadium, Kwara will take on Bauchi just as it will be a south west affairs in the second match when Ogun confronts Oyo.

  • Ramat cup: Gombe, Ogun, Bauchi zoom into quarter finals

    Ramat cup: Gombe, Ogun, Bauchi zoom into quarter finals

    as Kano engages Kwara

    By Mike Oboh.

    The quarter finials of the ongoing Ramat cup organized by the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) holding in Kano will hold on Wednesday.
    Gombe,Ogun and Bauchi zoomed into the quarter finials on Tuesday as Gombe defeated their FCT counterpart 2-0 in the last group stage to book their ticket,Ogun who were beaten by Kano 1-2,  took the second ticket in group A to proceed to the quarter finial stage.
    Other qualifiers are Kebbi,Oyo,Sokoto,Kwara and Kano states. Though Kwara lost to Gombe 0-1 in one of the matches played in group B they still qualified with the six points they garnered from the two games won earlier,Sokoto were 2-1 better in their game against Lagos,Oyo picked the leading ticket in their group D though they lost their last match against Osun 1-3. Kebbi defeated Ekiti state 3-0 to pick their ticket.
    In the quarter finial pairings, defending champions Kwara will take on Kano, , Gombe will battle it out again Ogun,Oyo will trade tackles with Sokoto just as it will be a northern affair when Bauchi state  squares up against Kebbi at the pillars stadium in the ancient city of Kano.
    Meanwhile, YSFON’s President, Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna said  that the body was impressed with the way the players and officials have conducted themselves and was optimistic, the game will end without any hitch.
    Gawuna noted that the development of the youths through sports will remain the focal point of the federation in its collective efforts to help the game in the country.
    Also speaking the National organizing secretary, coach Abdullrazaq Usman said the body will continue to support the efforts of the Nigeria Football Federation in developing the youths in football in the country.
    Usman said with YSFON’s national teams, the federation will not relent in supplying to the national team quality players who can’t impart on the success story of the country’s teams.
    He said that the quarter finals was moved to Pillars stadium to enable the players have a feel of the playing ground as a learning process.
    He commended Kano State government for its continued support for the federation in organising the competition.