By joshua St. Kizito Kuje CMO EXCO Hosts Football Team After Lugbe Deanery Tournament
Demonstrating that true sportsmanship transcends final trophies, the Catholic Men Organisation (CMO) Executive Committee of St. Kizito Catholic Church, Kuje, Abuja, hosted a special appreciation reception for the Parish CMO football squad following their memorable outing in the 2026 Lugbe Deanery CMO Football Tournament.
The St. Kizito CMO team delivered an outstanding performance during the tournament’s preliminary rounds. They topped their group with composed, determined displays of skill and talent to advance to the Round of 16. However, despite their impressive momentum and tactical execution, the team suffered a heartbreaking exit in the first knockout stage.
The CMO EXCO of St Kizito Parish Kuje, not minding that the team exited the tournament at Round of 16 knockout phase, chose to highlight the grit, discipline, and sportsmanship displayed by the players during the competition. The EXCO believe that in spite of its early exit at the knockout stage of the competition, the team’s overall performance left a lasting impression on the parish community.
The reception, organised by St Kizito CMO EXCO and bankrolled by the President of the organisation, Brother Sunday Okwu, to appreciate the players and team officials for their remarkable outing, dedication, conduct, unity and sacrifices, took place at the CMO Hall in the church premises.
In his speech on behalf of the squad, Team Coordinator, Brother Michael Jegede, thanked the President and the entire EXCO for celebrating the team, despite their elimination in the Round of 16. Brother Jegede also expressed gratitude to the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. (Dr) Henry Chinedu Duru, for his spiritual guidance and special prayers for the team.
“We entered the tournament with a strong determination to win the trophy. By God’s grace, we started well, securing convincing victories to top our group in the preliminary stage. This success was the result of teamwork, discipline, and the immense support we received from this EXCO, the entire Parish CMO, and our beloved Parish Priest, Reverend Father Henry Chinedu Duru, PhD.
“Painfully, our journey in the tournament ended in the Round of 16. However, as men of faith, we do not see this as defeat, but as a vital lesson that sows the seeds for a stronger return in the next edition.
“The fact that our President and the EXCO decided to host us notwithstanding our exit in the Round of 16 is a great encouragement to the team. We are not taking it for granted. This thoughtful gesture and recognition will go a long way in renewing the team’s determination for a more formidable performance in future competitions.,” the team coordinator said.
Addressing the team members, St. Kizito CMO President, Brother Sunday Okwu, commended the players for flying the parish flag high and maintaining an unyielding spirit on the pitch.
According to Okwu, “Victory is not solely defined by lifting the ultimate trophy, but by the character, unity, and commitment shown in the course of the tournament. So, it is not about the trophy. You represented St. Kizito Parish with exceptional pride, dignity, and honour. You gave everything on the field, and we are immensely proud of your effort.
“I wouldn’t want any of you to feel bad. You played four matches and you made us proud in all the four matches. You performed so excellently in the group stage that everyone saw your team as the team to beat. But just as the coordinator said, you cannot predict football.
“In any case, I am happy that we got to the Round of 16. Our loss at the Round of 16 stage was a gallant loss. I appreciate you all for the sacrifices you made to represent us in the tournament.”
The President announced the constitution of a Standing Sports Committee for the parish CMO. The Team Coordinator, Michael Jegede, a journalist, will serve as Chairman. The team coach, Chief James Micah Gora – a retired Grade 1 football referee, licensed professional coach, and current Vice Chairman of Nigeria Association of Athletics Technical Officials (NAATO) – was appointed Vice Chairman.
The Standing Sports Committee, as stated by Okwu, is to plan, organise and coordinate all sporting activities for CMO in St Kizito Parish. The committee was particularly charged with the responsibility of developing a framework for the management of a full-fledged St. Kizito CMO Football Club.
The Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Duru, ably represented at the reception by the First Vice Chairman of the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC), Dr. Charles Chukwujekwu Obi, congratulated the team for their active and impressive participation in the 2026 Lugbe Deanery CMO Football Tourney.
Dr. Obi said: “The parish priest asked me to say a big congratulation to you all for making the parish proud. There are some failures that are more than success. Even though you didn’t bring the trophy home, the parish priest feels quite impressed with your sparkling performance.
“Whereas, some teams were said to have started training three years ago, you were brought together by the coordinator just about two to three weeks to the tournament. Yet, you were able to perform the way you did. It is highly commendable.
“I thank the president, Sunday Okwu, for organising this reception for the team. He could have said the team lost in the Round of 16, why should we celebrate them? I thank him for singlehandedly taking up the bill for hosting this event without having to deep hands into the CMO purse.”
The PPC First Vice Chairman announced a donation to support the sports committee constituted by the Okwu-led EXCO and disclosed that the decision to have such a standing committee was being fully supported by the Parish Priest.