By Olivia Obijiaku
Laity Council of Rumi Deanery, Catholic Diocese of Zaria has won the Frist Edition of Bishop Habila Tyiakwonaboi Daboh’s Football Competition. The deanery defeated Sabon Gari by two goals to nothing in a penalty shootout to clinch the trophy at the competition that marked the end of 2024 Laity Week in the diocese.
Expressing his joy at the success of the exercise which took place in St Joseph Minor Seminary, Zaria on Saturday, 1st June, 2024 Bishop Daboh commended the players, referee, commentator and everyone present at the event for making the exercise such a reality, promising to improve on subsequent editions.
He lauded the winners for their resilience even as he tasked them get the lay faithful in their deanery involved in the activities of the council.His words, “I enjoyed this outing. I have really enjoyed your presence and your skills. I thank God there is no injury. It is only the bishop who is going back with headache.
But this headache is out of joy.”“By next year by the grace of God, I am going to get medals for this competition. Those who will come first will go with the trophy. Those who will come second will go with the medals and those who may come third will get some other beautiful gifts.”“For those who came first I want to sincerely thank you for the resilience.
Do not just come and play. Get the laity involved in your activities. Laity Week is not to be done in towns alone. It has to be done everywhere in the diocese. If we are able to do, this other things will fall in place because every other association is under the laity. So, I want you to take this very seriously.”On his part, the Diocesan Chaplain of the body, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Ezekiel Danlami Tijjani thanked His Lordship for honouring the occasion of the first Bishop’s Cup for the laity of the diocese, despite his tight schedule.He described the exercise as a novelty match where the laity of the diocese gather in solidarity for what they stand for. “Come next year we will repeat it.” He said. “Please take it as novelty. It is not a competition where we win millions. The Bishop’s Cup has come to stay. So, Rumi Deanery are winners for now. Anything can happen next year. If you retain it, fine. If you do not retain it, another deanery can take it up from you.” He commended them for knocking deanery that beat them at the initial stage of the competition. He also congratulated Sabo Gari and Samaru Deaneries for coming second and third respectively.In his brief remark, the Laity Council Chairman of the Diocese, Sir Innocent Ibrahim thanked his team of executives for seeing to the successful completion. He noted that the competition was more professional than they expected.
