AFTER four years of hosting the Nestle Basic School Under-13 Soccer Championship, Ashanti Region emerged the winner for the first time as Amoawi Methodist School from Offinso, broke the jinx and lifted the envious trophy at stake at the Paa Joe Stadium, on Saturday.
They beat Saint Joseph International School from Gambia Number Two in the Bono region 3-2, after 40 minutes of uncompromising football by both schools, in the final game.
Amoawi Methodist School took home GH¢20,000 plus assorted products from Nestle, while Saint Joseph International School received GH¢12,000 plus products with the second runner up, Bodaa Presbyterian Primary School from Bono region, walking home with GH¢7,000 plus products and a media tablet.
Bodaa Presbyterian Primary School beat Talent Bridge Academy from the Central Region 4-3 on penalties after a goal apiece in full time.
The Fair Play award went to Talent Bridge Academy and the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament went to Adu Bempah, captain for Amoawi Methodist School.
Edward Amekah of Akweiman M/A Basic in Accra picked the Goal-king award, scoring nine goals while the Best Tournament Player award went to Samuel Obeng of the Amoawi Methodist School as he capped his performance with a brace in the final match.
The Finance Director of Nestle, Osman Camara, said their support was geared toward molding the children for the betterment of the nation and cited Stephen Appiah among others, who benefited from the project.
Mr Emmanuel Domeyah, Director, Physical Education Unit of the Ghana Education Service (GES) said the championship project, collaboration between the GES and Nestle, would go a long way to discipline the children and prepare them for the nation.
Chief of Sewuah, Nana Kwaku Amankwah, who represented the Asantehene, was full of praise for the tournament organisers and called on football authorities to monitor the children for future use by the nation.
FROM KINGSLEY E. HOPE, KUMASI