Governor Caleb Mutfwang has rewarded winners and runners-up of the 2023 Plateau Football Association Governor’s Cup with fertiliser and cash gifts.

The governor’s cup final between Mangu and Jos North LGAs, was played on Sunday at the Mangu Mini Stadium in Mangu.

Mr Mutfwang said the decision to reward the winners with fertiliser was to encourage the players to invest in agriculture while they ply their trade.

The governor said each player of the winning team would get 10 bags of fertiliser, while those who came second would get five bags each.

He said players in the team that came third would get three bags of fertiliser each.

The governor said the heavy rain that soaked the pitch was a blessing rather than a misfortune.

According to him, the rain was God’s approval of his administration’s resolve to support the people’s return to their farms in spite of the security challenges.

Mr Mutfwang doubled the first prize from N1.5 million to N3 million, the second prize from N1 million to N2 million, and the third prize from N750,000 to N1.5 million.

The governor restated his administration’s determination to restore Plateau’s lost glory in sports, particularly football.

“By 2025, we will organise the competition in a bigger and better way. Before we leave, we will see how we will improve our sporting facilities across the state to encourage our athletes.

“Plateau has been a major contributor of players to the national team. In the last African Cup of Nations, we had about five players from the state,” he said.

Mangu LGA team defeated their Jos North counterparts 1-0 to emerge winners of the 2023 Governor’s Cup.

The goal that made the difference was scored in the second half of the pulsating encounter.

Shendam local government came third after defeating Wase Rock 5-3 on penalties after playing 1-1 in regulation time. 

(NAN)