Sports
2025 Abuja All Stars Int’l Veteran Final: Karu, New Karu Veterans Promise Fireworks
By Joel Ajayi
It will be an all-Karu showdown as debutants New Karu Veterans square up against their counterparts, Karu Veterans, in the grand finale of the 2025 Abuja All Stars International Veteran Tournament.
On Saturday, New Karu stunned USF with an emphatic 3-1 victory in the first semifinal to book their place in the final in style. Later in the day, Karu Veterans overcame Apo Fitness Veterans 5-4 in a tense penalty shootout to seal their first-ever appearance in the final.
With both teams set to lock horns this Saturday inside the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, coaches and captains from both camps have begun talking tough, promising fans a thrilling finale.
Speaking after their semifinal win, New Karu captain Robinson Amba expressed confidence in his team’s mission:
“Now that we are in the final, we know we cannot come this far only to fall short. The target has always been the trophy, and all hands are on deck to make sure we bring it home.”
New Karu coach, Abiodun Arowofela, also praised his team’s resilience:
“By God’s grace, we are now at the last stage of our mission. The opponents are no pushovers, but football is about determination and persistence. We have come this far, and with God on our side, we believe we can finish strong and lift the trophy.”
As the 2025 edition of the Abuja All Stars International Veteran Tournament draws to a close, fans can expect nothing short of fireworks when both Karu sides battle for supremacy in what promises to be a final to remember.
Sports
FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification
Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums
Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.
Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.
In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”
He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.
“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”
Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT
Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.
“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.
Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.
“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”
The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.
He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development
As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.
“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”
Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.
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