ABUJA: Finalists in this year’s Ships, Ports and Maritime Football Championship, which ended at the National Stadium Lagos at the weekend got N1 million each in the completion won by the Nigerian Customs Service. The Customs Service, who are the defending champions, defeated Nigerian Navy 2-0 to retain their title.
In the final game watched by a crowd of industry operatives and other football enthusiasts, Customs’ Abubakar Michael opened scores in the 15th minute, while Hafiz Adediran sealed the game with the second goal in the 85th minute to hand his team the title for the fifth time. In total, 61 goals were scored this year with Customs’ Abubakar Michael netting 13 to end as the highest scorer. The ‘Border Boys’ had previously won the championship in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2016.
Josephdam beat Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) 2-0 to win the bronze medal. At the end of the competition, the organisers rewarded the finalists with N1 million with Customs receiving N500, 000; Nigerian Navy got N300, 000, while Josephdam earned N200. 000. Coordinator of the programme, Eucharia Udoaka of Ships & Ports, described this year’s competition as impressive, adding, “you notice that there were little or no injuries. You see the friendly manner in which the players approached the game, it was very exciting.”
Margaret Orakwusi, Chairman Morbod Group did the kick-off of the final game. Other dignitaries that graced the occasion were Charles Okaga of the NPA, who is also the Chairman Committee of Team Managers for the competition, Deputy Director of Sports Nigeria Navy, Captain Friday Ture, Managing Director, Dangote Ports Operations, Capt. J.A Oyewumi, Deputy General Manager, Dangote Ports Operations, Ayo Egbetola, Public Relations Officer, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Nigeria Customs Service, Jerry Attah, and Deputy Director, Public Relations, Nigeria Shippers Council, Ignatius Nweke, who represented the executive secretary.
