Youths who were displaced from their communities in Northen Borno and now finding their way back following relative calm, recently concluded a four-month football tournament.
The tournament was organised by the Army 8 Task Force Division in Monguno, with hopes that it will keep the young men positively engaged, motivated and unavailable for recruitment into terror/criminal gangs in the region. It would also serve as a form of therapy, to help them get over traumatising experiences, and return fun to their lives, as well as promoted civil-military cooperation in the counter-insurgency campaign.
I'm no football fan, but from what I witnessed in Monguno, the zeal in their practice, the interest shown, the thousands who came out to watch, some even climbing trees to catch a glimpse, well, football is indeed an amazing sport!
(P.S. The Chief of Army staff witnessed the finals when he visited the Division on an operational tour.)
Pix Below:

What?[s][/s]

1. COAS Kicks off Match

2. Crowd at The Match

3. People Climb trees to Watch

1. Rough Play

Im a bit confused at what this means !!!

Up for grabs, Four trophies

Joining the team during practice.
Player, Mohammed Hassan, says he had to flee to Maiduguri with his family during the crisis. He lost three close friends

Baba Husseini, Ajari FC Coach. He says they're encouraging the youths in Monguno to go into sports, or go to school, or start business to help their community recover.

Good concept

Ok