By Ebube Dike

Defending champions, All Stars Abuja are poised to retain their Veterans Invitational Football Tournament crown which they won last year but they need to overcome the obstacle posed by Unity Sports Foundation as both teams battle for the trophy this weekend, bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

It will be a repeat of the opening match encounter when both teams tackled each other on July 2 to herald the second edition of the tournament being organized in partnership with Sports Writers Association, FCT chapter.

All Stars defeated USF 1-0 in a highly contested opening match but all that will be laid to rest as USF have the opportunity of rewriting history when they hit the turf on Saturday, 30th of July, 2022 at the FIFA Goal Project, Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

The match is expected to live up to expectations, and the hype around it after USF criticised some of the decisions taken by the referee in the first match.

Aruogu Ikemufula, USF player said ahead of the Saturday cracker tjat the issues concerning officiating has been put behind them, adding that the tournament has been quite interesting, tougher than he envisaged. He stressed that the officiating has improved drastically after the first match.

“We are looking forward to the final. We hope to take the game to the opponents and give them a run for their money because if we want to win the tournament, we should be ready to beat everybody and we are not toying with that’

“The officiating has been wholesome and we expect the same at the final but the opponents should be ready for war”

The chairman of the organising committee and member of All Stars Abuja, Desmond Ikwuje said the tournament has been able to achieve one of its cardinal objectives which is to bring unity, peace and togetherness among the veterans in the FCT .

He also said the competition has offered captains of industries the opportunity to network and build camaraderie during the period of the championship.

“The competition has opened new vista of opportunities to many of our members and the final will be one the best in the history of Nigeria Football,” he concluded

In the second semi-final encounter, Corporate Kickers Sports Club beat CKSC 2-1 to make it through to final.

All Stars International FC, Abuja defeated Nyanya All Stars via penalties to win the maiden edition of the Abuja All Stars Invitational Tournament in 2021