Barr. Isaac Danladi was honoured as a patron of the Abuja Unity pre-season tournament

In a major show of appreciation for his unwavering support for grassroots football, Chief Advocate Isaac Danladi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Nasarawa State, has been honoured as the Patron of the Abuja Unity Pre-Season Tournament.

This off-season competition, which features clubs from Nigeria’s Elite, Second and Third Divisions as well as non-league teams, serves as a vital preparation for the upcoming Nigeria Premier Football League season.

Danladi was awarded the prestigious title during the final match of the third edition of the tournament held on Sunday afternoon at the Area 3 football ground in Garki, Abuja.

The honour was bestowed upon him by the tournament’s Chairman and Patron, Mr Patrick Ngwaogu, who praised Danladi for his “unconditional commitment and support” in promoting the tournament.

Elated by the recognition, Danladi pledged to step up his support for the competition, even expressing his ambition to see the tournament held in Nasarawa State.

“On behalf of my family and the good people of Nasarawa State, let me express my gratitude and appreciation to the organisers of this competition for deeming me worthy, under these circumstances, to receive this beautiful award,” Danladi said during his acceptance speech.

Reflecting on the importance of the tournament, he highlighted its role in preparing the teams for the upcoming season and revealed plans to lobby the Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, to host the next edition in the state capital, Lafia. “The lessons learnt from this competition are not ephemeral but long-lasting,” he said, underscoring the value of the tournament to the participating teams.

In the final match, Nationwide League One side Like Minds FC from Abuja recorded a surprising 1-0 victory over Nigeria Premier Football League side Niger Tornadoes.

Lucky Chidum Ojukwu scored the decisive goal in the 72nd minute. Eleven teams, including Nasarawa United and Plateau United, participated in the week-long event, which began on August 12, 2024.

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