Bigger prizes await future Zenith/delta Principals Cup champions

WINNERS in the next edition of the Zenith Bank-sponsored Delta State Principal’s Cup competition for secondary schools stand to win bigger prizes for their efforts, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has promised.

Okowa was one of the dignitaries at the final match of the 2018 edition of the competition won by Marvel International School, Ughelli, which defeated St. Paul’s College, Ozoro 6-5 on penalties in the final. The governor, who praised Zenith Bank for its immense support to the state’s youth development programme, disclosed that next year’s winner would win a school bus as star prize.

Okowa also announced the start of Headmasters Cup for primary schools, saying the winner will also get a school bus. “The future still holds a lot for students of Delta State,” he said. “I must thank our sponsor Zenith Bank for what they have been doing because this is the second edition, we are very proud of Zenith Bank.

“I hope they will continue to help the state and hope by next year, the schools that qualified for the final will be camped together for some days before the game, so that they will be able to display more football prowess.

“Last year, I said we need to go back to the grassroots and catch them young, so we are going to be having the Headmasters’ Cup next which had already received approval.

“Apart from the sum of N200,000 that will be giving to the best performers like the Most Valuable Player, Best Goalkeeper, Highest Goal Scorer, by the year 2019, the school that will win the final will go home with a bus and also the winner of the Headmasters’ Cup.” Zenith Bank teamed up with Delta State to resuscitate that Principals’ Cup, which in the past threw up quality players, who went on to become full internationals for Nigeria.

The organisers of the current competition believe that the competition will not only unearth hidden talents, but it will also teach the students the benefits of combining education with sports.