BY JACOB AJOM

The zone D finals of the 2011 Copa Coca Cola was held in Kaduna penultimate weekend and football fans in the Northern city had a lot to cheer. Predictably, Kaduna state team won the finals after beating hard-fighting Kano team 1-0.

The match was exciting as players of both teams upped their game and produced scintillating football that bellied their ages and innocence.

Coach of the victorious Kaduna team, Abdulsalam Jere held his head high after the encounter as his young side carted away the winning trophy and other awards. Jere, an apostle of entertaining football was all smiles after the final whistle, nodding in approval of the overall performance of his wards.

“I believe in entertaining and purposeful football and that is what my players exhibited today,” Jere said, smiling to the battery of reporters that milled around him.

“We tried to entertain the spectators and at the same time made use of the chance that came our way. It was a tight match because the Kano lads also played very well,” Jere said in defence of the slim scoreline.

In the midfield of the Kaduna State team was a lanky 16 year old, Abdullahi Alfa whose dexterity and guile made it possible for them to carry the day. Alfa. He was everywhere on the pitch and initiated numerous attacks.

Alfa was a beauty to watch as even the uninitiated could easily pick him out of the lot. “He is a very talented footballer and we just discovered him in this edition of the Copa Coca Cola,” Coach Jere said in a chat with this reporter.

Abdullahi Alfa was readily on hand to tell his story himself. “I am from Gara Nkasha, Niger State,” he started. He told Sports Vanguard that he is the last of three children. “I lost my father in 1996 and my mother died in 2004.”

Abdullahi Alfa was a student of Rimi College, Kaduna. But could not sit for either NECO or WAEC examinations. “I could not afford the registration fees so I could not sit for my WAEC,” Alfa said reflectively.

He said his only brother is back home in Niger state while he was in Kaduna with his sister. “We really find it tough to get our square meals but with God on my side I hope to play my football to the highest level.”

Alfa has not given up hope on his education though, as he believes, he is talented enough to make it big in future.

He was one of those penciled down to represent the Kaduna Zone in the national finals of the 2011 Copa Coca Cola holding in Lagos, later this month.

Garba Lawal who was the celebrity coach, responsible for the selection of players to represent the zone in the national finals confirmed to Sports Vanguard that Alfa would make the team to Lagos. “I have seen some fantastic footballers here, definitely Alfa is one of them,” Lawal said.

The former Super Eagles star was of the view that some of the players are good enough for the national U-17 team. He praised the sponsors, Coca Cola for the initiative.