By DONATUS DALWAT
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Jos Division, has officially kicked off its 2025 five-a-side football tournament with an exciting opening match held on October 14, 2025, at the Plateau State Boys Brigade compound playground.
Speaking on behalf of the Planning Committee, Mr. James Abar expressed delight at the impressive turnout for the event’s opening ceremony.
He extended gratitude to the management of the court, particularly the Jos Division Authority, for their continued support and for granting staff the opportunity to showcase their God-given talents.
According to Abar, the tournament was designed to “promote football development, sportsmanship, and healthy competition among teams from within and around the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Jos Division.”
He added that it provided “a platform for players to showcase their skills, build friendships, and foster mutual trust—key ingredients for better coexistence while having fun.”
In his remarks, the Presiding Judge of NICN, Jos Division, Justice I. S. Galadima, who was the Special Guest at the occasion, thanked the organisers for the invitation, describing it as “a rare honour to be among my staff.”
He expressed excitement at witnessing such a lively event and encouraged participants to maintain the spirit of unity and brotherliness throughout the competition, saying, “I look forward to the success of this game.”
The opening match saw Team A (Accounting) face off against Team B (Admin) in a thrilling encounter that ended 5–3 in favour of Team B.
It was D. D. who opened the scoring with two early goals for Team A, putting Accounting in the lead.
However, Nenfort pulled one back for Team B just before the halftime break, ending the first half at 2–1.
The second half witnessed a spirited comeback by Team B, with Nenfort striking again to level the scores at 2–2.
Zut, Buhari and Bwala each added goals for Team B, while Minkailu scored a late consolation goal for Team A.
At the final whistle, Team B secured all three points, setting the tone for what promised to be an exciting and competitive tournament at the NICN Jos Division.