EXCITEMENT BUILDS AS NUJ FOOTBALL COMPETITION KICKS OFF MONDAY

By: Gyang Dakwo

The wait is over in Abuja as the third edition of the NUJ FCT Football Tournament kicks off today, Monday, 18 August 2025, at the Area 3 football pitch and the Area 10 field of the Old Parade Ground.

Twelve teams will battle for glory in the week-long knockout contest after the draws held at the NUJ Council in Utako split them into two action-packed groups.

Group A promises fireworks with the Federal High Court, the Nigeria Customs Service, the NDLEA, the Nigeria Medical Association, the FRSC, and the Nigeria Police Force all set to clash. Group B is no less tough, featuring the Nigerian Army, AIBEN, NUJ, SWAN, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Nigerian Air Force.

The top two from each group will charge into the semi-finals on Thursday, 21 August, before the third-place playoff on Friday, 22 August. The stage will then be set for the grand finale on Saturday, 23 August, at the Old Parade Ground.

NUJ FCT Chairperson, Grace Ike, fired up the teams with a call for discipline and fair play. “Every player and official must participate with the spirit of sportsmanship in mind. The goal of the competition is also to strengthen the relationship between the union and its partners,” she said.

Backing her up, NUJ Council Secretary, Jide Oyekunle, reminded teams that complaints against opponents or officials must be backed with evidence, stressing that order must be maintained.

Chairman of the NUJ FCT Sports Week Organising Committee, Ndubueze Chidoka, was upbeat about the bigger picture, while commending AIBEN and other sponsors. “The NUJ-FCT Council Football Tournament is not organised merely for enjoyment; it is a call to duty, strengthening friendships and promoting peaceful coexistence with other organisations. For us, members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, this tournament goes beyond winning a trophy, it will also enhance our physical well-being and mental alertness,” he explained.

The draws were witnessed by the National Secretary-General of SWAN, Ambassador Ikenna Okonkwo, alongside representatives of the participating teams. Now, all eyes are on the pitch as the chase for the 2025 NUJ FCT crown begins.