39 clubs battle in Ekene Adams’‘Catch Them Young’ Football Tournament in Kaduna
At least 39 amateur football club sides based in Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency in Kaduna State have registered for the inaugural edition of Comrade Ekene Abubakar Adams Football Tournament in Kaduna State.
The tournament which kicked off on Thursday with the Opening Ceremony at Government Day Secondary School Sabon Tasha Kaduna will see the young and talented footballers across the nook and crannies of the state engage themselves through the month of October to November 2018.
In the opening match of the tournament, Sabo Gunners defeated Sambo Bombers 3-0.
According to organisers of the competition, Comrade Ekene Abubakar Adams who is the Chief Executive Officer of Kada City Football Club has not hidden his passion for the round leather game as he always emphasized that the best way to drastically reduce poverty is to use the power of football and other sports to empower the youth who are immensely talented.
Women and youths present at the opening ceremony were rewarded with cash prizes, scholarships and valuables which include grinding machines, Motorcycles, hair driers among others. In his speech at the event “The Youngest” as Ekene Adams is called by his admirers reinstated that his philanthropic gesture is not to win people’s hearts in his bid to represent the people of Chikun/Kajuru at the Federal level but his desire to alleviate poverty from his people.
“I am not giving out these items for you to vote me because it has been my desire to help the less privileges in the society even before my political ambition.” he said. World No 4 Juan Martin del Potro scythed down Serbia’s Filip rajinovic 6-3 6-0 in the China Open yesterday to set up a semifinal clash with Italian Fabio Fognini.
Former US Open champion Del Potro fired down 12 aces and won five out of eight break point opportunities to chalk up a comfortable win over the 26-year-old.
“I’ve been training hard to play at this level,” Del Potro, who has booked his spot in next month’s season-ending ATP Finals in London, said.
“Today, everything worked good, starting from my serve, from my forehands and backhands. That is the game I need to go far in this tournament.”
Del Potro faces a potentially tricky test against the in-form Fognini on Saturday. The Italian beat Marton Fucsovics 6-4 6-4 as he maintained his own pursuit of a place in London.
Victory meant fourth seed Fognini has won a career-high 43 matches this season while claiming three titles in the process.
“It’s going to be a difficult one,” Del Potro, who has a 1-1 win-loss record against Fognini, added. “Fabio beat me in the Mexico final this year, he’s playing very well already.”
Fifth seed Kyle Edmund edged past Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic 6-3 7-6(4) as he continued his search for a maiden ATP title.
The Briton next plays world number 34 Nikoloz Basilashvili, who ousted Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri with a 6-2 6-2 victory.