Camp United wins inaugural Army barracks youth football championship

Camp United over the weekend emerged as champions of the maiden edition of the Army Headquarters Garrison Barracks Youth Football Championship at the final which was held at the football pitch of the Mogadishu Military Cantonment, Abuja.

The Coach Cornelius Monday-tutored team defeated Army Headquarters Garrison FC (AHQ FC) by 7 goals to 6 through penalty shootouts after the regulation time ended 1-1.

AHQ FC scored in the 17th minute through Cyril Simon but Camp United came back into the game and equalised through Babagana Umar in the 28th minute of the highly explosive and entertaining encounter which kept spectators at the edge of their seats.

Earlier in the third-place match, Zion Hearts FC beat Merchandise FA by 6 goals to 5 also through penalties after a 1-1 scoreline.

Speaking with Sporting Tribune, the Commander Army Headquarters Garrison Command, Major General Koko Isoni, assured that the championship will henceforth be held annually just as he expressed satisfaction with the organisation of the event saying the objectives of the competition was met as exceptional players have been spotted.

“We actually thought of this championship to achieve certain objectives and I’m glad to say that those objectives have been largely achieved. We often hear that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop, so we thought that if we engage our youths in the barracks in competition such as this, we’ll be able to keep them engaged, get those with talents, identify them and even project them.

“That we have been able to do and spot a lot of talents here and I can assure you that those guys will go places,” Major General Isoni said.

The coordinator of the championship, Major Bala Shehu Yusuf said players discovered at the competition needed platforms and must be encouraged to represent Nigeria at international events.

An elated coach of Camp United, Cornelius Monday, commended his boys for winning the championship saying he was not surprised that his team emerged winners as the boys have always been in the right frame of mind as they always display champions’ mentality even when odds are against them.

12 teams participated in the competition which was held between 2nd to 7th December, 2024. The teams are Zion Hearts, Dynamite, Chase Dream, Climax, Success, FC Mara Venue, Camp United, Young Boys, Abzchanire Sources and DIA FC.

Others are Merchandise, Lungi FC, Defence Striker, NAF Valley and Dream Stars.

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