8 teams battle for Ramat Cup semi-final tickets in Kano
Action continnues today in the ongoing Ramat Cup in Kano as 8 teams that qualified from the round of 16 matches played yesterday will slug it out in the quarter-finals.
As expected winners from the eight matches will qualify for semi-finals in the cadet tournament being organised by the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria, YSFON.
Defending champions,Kano will take on their Kaduna counterparts, Bauchi will lock horns with Kebbi, kwara will confront the boys from Rivers while Borno will have their hands full against a strong and highly motivated Lagos side.
To get to this stage, Kano dumped out Nasarawa 4-1 yesterday just as Bauchi were the lucky side against Katsina with a 2-1 victory.
In the other round of 16 matches, Kebbi pipped Kogi with a lone goal, Kaduna defeated Bayelsa 5-4, while Borno sent Adamawa packing with three unreplied goals.
In the battle of South-South teams, Rivers also edged out Edo 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw while Kwara won their match 4-0 against Zamfara.
Meanwhile the organisers of the competition have expressed satisfaction with the standard of play and high level of discipline exhibited so far by the participating teams.
In the same vein, the organisers seriously reprimanded players and coaches whose behaviours have been found wanting.
In addition, the YSFON Publicity Secretary, Paul Akhagbemhe expressed sadness and concern that despite the abundant talents on display at the youth tournament, there was no presence of the NFF or its technical officers.
He said instead even local and foreign scouts have deemed it wise to comb the match venues daily for budding talents.
Akhagbemhe therefore, decried the apparent lack of synergy between both sporting bodies which he said would have enhanced the growth of grassroot football.
Furthermore, he said YSFON was not happy that international youth clubs no longer participate in Ramat cup which he noted is a thing of concern to the organisers.
While appealing to the sports ministry for more support, he expressed YSFON’s appreciation to Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the good people of the state for keeping faith with YSFON.