By Amaechi Agbo

As the second edition of the National Principals Cup reaches zonal level, no fewer than one thousand schools drawn from the six geopolitical zones of the country are poised to dethrone Fosla Academy of Abuja who are the current champions.

On March 30, 2021, Fosla Academy defeated Christ Comprehensive School Kaduna 2-0 to lift the coveted trophy. The Karshi-based academy won the tournament undefeated

However, with disappoinment, anguish of defeats then, several schools are back on the block, seeking to get their pound of flesh from the reigning Champions.

However, Fosla Academy Coach, Gilbert Igwe is unperturbed as he expressed confidence that the boys at his academy are aware of the challenges ahead of them as defending champions, stressing that as they did in 2021, they would also replicate such gesture in taking their matches one game at a time.

Coach Igwe who spoke after his team won the FCT Principals Cup last week said that as defending champions, all the schools will prepare against them, adding that in sports, “that is the reward you get as defending champions. However, we are motivated to retain the crown,” he said.

The championship kicked off from the state level on Thursday, the 24th of November 2022, before moving to the zonal finals.

Expected to replicate the success of the first edition that was held in 2021, the second edition promises to be more exciting as some of the students/athletes who took part in the last edition will not be making a return thus giving room for new students/players and athletes to showcase their talents.

For instance, Onuche Ogbelu who marshalled Fosla Academy midfield last year will not be returning to the championship after his heroics earned him a national call up into the U-20, Flying Eagles team where he helped the team win the WAFU U-20 tournament earlier in the year.

Ogbelu and 39 others will be reporting to their camp in Abuja on Monday as they prepare for the 2023 Africa U-20 Championship in Egypt.

During the first edition of the National Principal’s Cup, he represented eventual football champions, FOSLA Academy and has now gone on to sign for NPFL side, Nassarawa United.

Fosla Academy last week won the FCT/State Cup and will be representing the Federal Capital at the North-Central Zonal Elimination which holds between December 11 and 15th.

The national finals is slated to hold between 18 and 22nd January, 2023.