Joel Ajayi
The stage is set for an explosive finale at the 2025 Abuja All Stars International Veteran Tournament as debutants New Karu Veterans prepare to lock horns with Karu Veterans in the grand final next Saturday.
In the first semifinal, debutant side New Karu stunned USF with an emphatic 3-1 victory, booking their place in the final in impressive fashion.
Later in the day, Karu Veterans edged past Apo Fitness Veterans in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout, winning 5-4, to also secure their maiden appearance in the final.
Speaking after the semifinal triumph, New Karu captain Robinson Amba expressed his delight and highlighted the team’s determination:
“We were trailing earlier in the match, but from the very beginning of this tournament, our mission was clear—to reach the final and win the trophy.
“We are blessed with a fantastic coach who never gave up on us, even when we were a goal down. He kept encouraging us, telling us to push harder, and thankfully the breakthrough came—first goal, second, third, and the rest is history.
“Now that we are in the final, we know we cannot come this far only to fall short. The target has always been the trophy, and all hands are on deck to make sure we bring it home.”
On his part, Coach Abiodun Arowofela of New Karu Veterans praised his team’s resilience and gave thanks for their progress so far:
“I give glory to God for the victory. When we registered for this competition, we set three goals—first, to reach the semifinal; second, to reach the final; and third, to win the cup. By God’s grace, we are now at the last stage of that mission.
“The opponents are no pushovers, but football is about determination and persistence. We have come this far, and with God on our side, we believe we can finish strong and lift the trophy.”
With both Karu sides now through to the grand finale, fans can expect a thrilling battle for supremacy as the curtain falls on the 2025 edition of the Abuja All Stars International Veteran Tournament.
