Member of Parliament for Bongo Constituency, Lawyer Charles Bawa-Dua, has launched a Sallah Cup football tournament aimed at promoting peace, unity and youth development during the festive season.
The event, held during the parliamentary recess as part of Sallah celebrations, brought together young footballers and residents from the Bongo-Feo and Namoo communities. It featured a spirited football match that drew large crowds and created an atmosphere of sportsmanship and community engagement.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Mr. Bawa-Dua said the tournament was designed to engage young people positively and steer them away from social vices such as drug abuse and reckless riding of motorbikes.
“Today, as we celebrate Sallah, we asked ourselves what we could do to entertain and engage the youth positively,” he said. “That is why we organised this football match between Feo and Namoo, while also sharing the message of peace preached by Prophet Mohammed.”
He said the initiative reflects a broader goal of promoting discipline, peace and development among young people in the constituency.
Mr. Bawa-Dua, who is also the founder of Samba Stars Football Club in Bongo-Beo, highlighted his long-standing involvement in football development. He said the club previously progressed from the Third Division to the Second Division and later reached the National Division One League.
He said the Sallah Cup is also intended to serve as a platform for identifying and nurturing football talent across the constituency, with the long-term goal of rebuilding a competitive district team similar to the former Bongo United Stars.
“The whole idea is to build a strong district team again,” he said. “We have done it before, but lack of resources affected our progression to the Premier League.”
He also acknowledged infrastructure challenges in the constituency, including poor roads, gaps in health facilities, and limited sporting infrastructure. He said efforts were underway to improve conditions at the Bongo District Hospital and some CHPS compounds.
“Development is an ongoing process. Moving forward, we are going to take steps to ensure that the level of infrastructure our people need is achieved,” he said.
Mr. Bawa-Dua said the Sallah Cup would be made an annual event to promote youth engagement, sports development and unity.
The tournament attracted a large turnout of residents, youth groups and community leaders. At the end of the match, the winning team received a ram and a trophy, while the runners-up received cash prizes.
Namoo team coach Tahiru Azaare praised his side’s performance, attributing their victory to experience and determination. He appealed for more support for football infrastructure and financing to strengthen local teams.
Feo team coach Gawusu Nyaaba commended his players despite the loss, noting that an early red card affected their performance. He said the team would return stronger in future competitions.
The tournament ended with renewed calls for peace, unity and continued investment in youth sports development across the constituency.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Moses Anaba Azubire | Bongo
