Participants of the second edition, Alice Gombwer Foundation Peace and Unity Soccer Competition have vowed to carry the message of peace to their various communities.

They expressed this in separate interviews with newsmen at the closing ceremony held at the Kotoko Barracks Football Pitch on Sunday.

Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, Bitrus Yusuf said that the competition was a good one.

“We played in the first edition which was good, we also enjoyed this one. We look forward to the next one. I thank the players who contributed to me emerging MVP back-to-back. May God bless the organisers and strengthen them to do more.

“We are happy, we are already promoting peace, we do that in the community and help spread message of peace to those who are yet to embrace it as learnt from the messages during the tournament,” he said.

Also speaking, Abdullahi Umar aka Stamina affirmed that it was a good tournament.

“We need more of this on creating peace. As you can see, the stadium is filled up, everyone enjoying it.
“With this competition, you don’t know who is a Muslim or Christian, it is good.

“We enjoyed the peace messages, they are very encouraging. How I wish I had the powers, we would have been inviting you for more of these messages,” he stressed.

For Coach Young Shinning Stars FC, Kotoko Barracks, Adegboyega Suleiman, though the tournament has come and gone, the lessons would remain with all participants and would be spread to all communities.

“We thank God Almighty for everything. The organisers have done well, we hope to see another edition next year.

“This kind of competition creates peace among the youth of diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds.

“This competition preaches peace and unity among youth. My players have learnt much and I have told them we need such. This kind of competition will give them good orientation and promote peaceful coexistence.

“Already we are telling our players to be peaceful, but the competition has given us more insight we need more of such competitions and we are thanking the organisers. We hope to see you next year again,” he said.

It would be recalled that the annual competition, which had its second edition concluded earlier in the week, attracted teams from all parts of Kaduna.

The final saw Gombe United Kawo lock horns with Hayin Banki United, but the latter lost  the final match for the second time, as Gombe United claimed the trophy after winning penalty kicks 5-4 after both teams played a goalless regulation time.

It is organised in honour of late Alice Gombwer and aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence in Kaduna State.