Government Secondary School, Owerri, has become the first team to qualify for the Imo State finals of the maiden First Bank Samuel Okwaraji U-16 Secondary Schools Football Championship after emerging champions of the Owerri Zone qualifiers.
The school enjoyed a dominant run in the competition, defeating Ubomiri Comprehensive High School, Ubomiri, Mbaitoli, 2-0 in the semi-finals before overcoming hosts Owerri City School by the same scoreline in the final to secure the zonal title.
Owerri City School had booked their place in the final after edging Comprehensive Amakohia, Uratta, Owerri North, 1-0 in the second semi-final but were unable to stop Government Secondary School from lifting the trophy and claiming the first ticket to the state finals.
With the Owerri Zone concluded, attention now turns to the Okigwe Zone qualifiers, which will be played at the training pitch of Owerri City School.
Four schools will compete for the next available slot at the state finals. They are Okigwe Grammar School, Okigwe; St. Theresa Secondary School, Alaike, Obowo; St. Dominic Secondary School, Ugiri, Isiala Mbano; and Boys Secondary School, Umualumaku, Ehime Mbano.
The eventual winners from the Okigwe and Orlu zones will join Government Secondary School, Owerri, at the Imo State finals scheduled to hold at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri. The tournament will also determine the state’s representatives for the South-East zonal championship.
The championship is organised by the Samuel Okwaraji Foundation in partnership with the Nigerian School Sports Federation (NSSF), the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the National Sports Commission (NSC), the National Institute for Sports (NIS) and the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), with First Bank Nigeria serving as the title sponsor.
Beyond the competition, the tournament honours late Super Eagles midfielder, Samuel Okwaraji, who died while representing Nigeria in a 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Angola on August 12, 1989.
Organisers say the championship is aimed at preserving Okwaraji’s legacy of patriotism and sacrifice while using football as a tool to promote discipline, academic excellence and character development among secondary school students. It is also designed to revive school sports, discover young talents and create pathways for scholarships, mentorship and exposure to football scouts.
