Date: 2014-07-05

THE coach of the Kwara U-17 female football side, Samuel Abegide has vowed to retain the Airtel Rising Stars zonal title won by his team last year in Ibadan when his wards square up against Ekiti in the final match of the on-going Ilorin zonal championship of the Airtel Rising Star U-17 Tournament.

  The coach, while expressing optimism in the ability of his players, said his team has become a force to reckon with since their first participation in the championship in 2012 where they made an appreciable impact in the championship.

   “This is not the first time we will be playing in the finals of the competition. In 2012, we got to the semis and in 2013, we won the championship. We are not afraid to meet any team,” he said.

   Corroborating her coach’s position, the assistant captain of the side, Ajayi Victoria said they were in high spirit for the encounter, adding that retaining the trophy is their top most priority.

  Though she admits that the level of opposition is stiffer this year, Ajayi, however, expressed confidence that no level of challenge can break her team as the players know what is at stake and are ready to challenge for the title.

  The team will battle Ekiti State in Saturday’s final at the Kwara Football Academy Playing Ground. They had seen off Ondo State with a 2-1 victory in the first semi-final match played on Thursday. The winner of the match will represent the zone in the female category at the national finals slated for Lagos later this month. Former Nigerian International, Mutiu Adepoju is serving as the Technical Adviser for teams in Ilorin. 

  Meanwhile, Ekiti defeated Osun 5-4 via penalties after the match ended scoreless in the other semi-final match in the female category. Osun will take on Ondo also today in the third place match. Over 50 teams from Kwara, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun State have been participating in the week-long event.

  The zonal championships is a significant stage in the ARS circle as it offers equal opportunities to all registered participants to showcase their skills under the watchful eyes of tournament’s technical advisers, leading grassroots coaches, YSFON officials and media partners.