The stage is set for the grand finale in Oyo State zonal qualifiers for the maiden Samuel Okwaraji Memorial U16 Schools Football Championship, with Monday fixed for the potentially exciting match in Ibadan.
Sports247 reports that the final is scheduled to take place at the start of next week, following the decisive semi-final matches fixed for Friday and Saturday, as organisers aim to meet up with the national calendar.
The first semi-finalist in Oyo State for the comepittion, which is also taking place in various capitals across the country, were Brightville College from Ibadan North Local Government, whose opponents turned out to be Community High School, Iwo Road.
The second semi-final was scheduled to hold among wining teams emerging from the fixtures between Bishop Phillips Academy and Bustan Iswatu as well as Ibadan Grammar School versus Ephraim College.
Both semi-finals are billed to take place this Sunday at the ultra-modern Bishop Philips Academy sports complex along Iwo Road, Ibadan, while the state final will come up on Monday at the same venue.
Sports247 gathered that the nationwide competition is sponsored by First Bank and organised by Samuel Okwaraji Foundation, in collaboration with Nigerian School Sports Federation (NSSF), Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and National Sports Commission (NSC).
Chairman of the organising committee, Senator Osita Izunaso, representing Imo West senatorial district, said the competition is in honour of late Sam Okwaraji, who died in active service while playing for the Super Eagles during a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Angola on August 12, 1989 in Lagos.
Izunaso submitted, “Through this championship, we seek to immortalise his selflessness, patriotism, academic excellence, discipline and courage, while also nurturing football talents from the grassroots. Okwaraji was a lawyer, a scholar and a footballer, who played for love of country, not for personal gain.”
