Saturday, July 18, 2026

Football competition for prison inmates kicks off in Enugu

“We normally invite coaches from football teams and football managers.’’

• December 12, 2023
football competition organised for inmates (Credit: NAN)
football competition organised for inmates (Credit: NAN)

Six clubs are participating in a football competition organised for inmates of the Enugu Maximum Custodial Centre, in Enugu State.

The competition, sponsored by a philanthropist, Chief Emeka Okoye, kicked off on Monday and will run until January 3, 2024.

The six teams participating include controller of corrections, deputy controller of corrections, Emeka Okoye, CAPIO, NOWAS, and Freedom-at-Last teams.

The winning club will get N100, 000 while the runners up will go home with N60, 000 and third place winner will grab N40,000.

There would be monetary prizes for best player of the competition, best goalkeeper, highest goal scorer and best defensive player among others.

The opening match was between Emeka Okoye and the deputy controller of corrections teams.

In his address before the start of the competition, Controller in charge of the Custodial Centre, Mr Sunday Oyakhire, said that the competition was part of the reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of the inmates into society.

He added that it was an innovative way of reforming and re-orienting the inmates, and encouraging them to exploit their hidden potential.

He further said that the Controller-General of the NCOs, Haliru Nababa, pledged to recommend the release of any outstanding footballer.

He said club owners, football scouts and managers had been invited to watch the semi-final, third place and final matches.

He added, “We normally invite coaches from football teams, football managers and others for them to look at the good and quality players they can incorporate into their teams once they are out of custody. These coaches, managers and scouts can also facilitate the recommendation for the release of the spotted or discovered talents.”

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Police officer

Hot news Home top

Police nab fake pastor, accomplice for allegedly stealing newborn baby in Niger

The suspect lured a nursing mother and her 4-week-old baby to the Kasuwan-Gwari Area.

Electricity station

Heading 4

Poor leadership, corruption affecting Nigeria’s power sector, says ex-TCN boss 

He advocated the appointment of competent professionals based on merit rather than political considerations.

Heading 5

Several injured as 18-seater bus rams into market in Kwara

The injured were taken to a nearby hospital for emergency medical treatment.

Gardens

Agriculture

Stakeholders seek plant-based protein policies to boost food security

She said plant-based proteins were critical to building sustainable food systems.

States

Edo security squad nabs 12 suspected cultists in Benin

He said the suspects had been handed over to the police for further investigation.

PCRC

Heading 4

PCRC partners police on safe school programme

The police spokesman commended the PCRC leadership for hosting him.