Solace Football Club on Saturday in Abuja defeated hosts COFP FC 2-1 in the opening match of the 2018 Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP) Inter-faith Football Tournament.
The tournament, which is in its maiden edition, is an initiative of Agatha Chikelue, the foundation’s Executive Director.
The Tournament Manager, Augustine Nnakwe, told NAN that the competition which is for teams in the FCT was expected to run from Saturday to May 26.
The final will take place at the practice pitch of the Package A of Abuja National Stadium.
Eight teams are competing for honours in the tournament, and they include COFP FC of Garki, Solace FC of Lugbe, Unity Boys FC of Bwari and Omatz FC of Gwagwalada.
The rest are Golden Boys FC of Nyanya, Cyon FC of Garki, Y.P Sports FC of Apo and Puma FC of Karu.
The opening match played at the Papal Ground football pitch saw the two teams playing a free-flowing attacking football as both sides pushed forward at every opportunity.
However, it was the visitors who took the lead in the 16th minute through Obinna Nkwuda’s clever chip over the goalkeeper following a mistake in the COFP FC’s defence.
Ugonna Onwuamaeze equalised for the hosts in the 51st minute.
But the visitors were gifted another vital goal scoring opportunity from the penalty spot after the referee spotted an infringement in the 70th minute, with Mustapha Abdulbaqi making no mistake.
Earlier, in his remarks during the opening ceremony, the tournament’s patron, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, said the tournament was meant to be a tool in building a better society.
“It is meant to use the game of football as a tool in building mutual respect among religious groups and fostering lasting peace, harmony and development.
“The first thing that struck me was to see that the various teams participating in the tournament consist of both Christians and Muslims alike.
“It is good to hear such good news every once in a while, because there are a lot of bad news going around in our country.
“We must not allow our religious differences or cultural backgrounds get in the way of our progress as a people.
“We must always do everything possible to prevent and resolve conflicts and enhance cooperation among adherents of different faiths and cultures,’’ he said.
Also in his remarks, Nuru Khalid, the Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters Mosque, expressed his delight at the tournament.
He said football was one of the instruments which send a message to the world that humanity can be one.
“We must realise that we were first human beings before we decided to choose any faith. Therefore faith, tribe or any group must never be allowed to divide us.
“We must emulate the example set by Onaiyekan who is a pillar of peace and someone desirous of a peaceful, cohesive and inclusive society, upholding human dignity and rejecting violence ans religious extremism,’’ Khalid said.(NAN)
