ZECCO – The fourth edition of the Zecco Youth Maracana Tournament concluded on Saturday, February 17, 2024, with team Guelwongo 2 winning the championship. The event, presided over by the High Commissioner of Nahouri province, Augustin Kinda, saw the participation of teams from Tiébélé, Zecco, and Ziou communes. The final, which took place in the presence of local dignitaries and several guests, highlighted the theme of promoting social cohesion and peace efforts within the community.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the tournament’s organizer, the competition involved 13 teams and spanned three months, embodying a spirit of brotherhood and playfulness. The final match featured Watao FC versus Guelwongo 2, with the latter securing a 1-0 victory to take home the tournament’s trophy. In addition to the trophy, Guelwongo 2 was awarded 75,000 F CFA and two footballs, while Watao FC received 50,000 F CFA and two footballs for their runner-up finish. Other participating teams were also recognized with cash and in-kind rewards.
The event served as a platform for reinforcing community bonds and contributing to the larger goal of restoring peace and social cohesion in Burkina Faso. The sponsor of the tournament, Honoré Tamougré Sia, commended the organizing committee’s efforts and urged the youth to resist the lure of armed terrorist groups, advocating instead for support of the forces fighting to reclaim national territories. Sia pledged his ongoing support for initiatives aimed at enhancing local living conditions.
The ceremony was graced by the presence of notable figures, including Oscar Barro, coach of the local Stallions, and Hamadou Bamba, president of the Hauts-Bassins Regional League, among others. The High Commissioner Kinda lauded the organizers for selecting a theme that underscores the critical role of youth and community engagement in combatting insecurity. Additionally, an ad hoc collection during the event raised 138,000 CFA francs to aid the Volunteers for the Defense of the Fatherland (VDP) in Zecco. The day began with a cross-country race to further promote unity and cohesion among the population, the Defense and Security Forces (FDS), and the VDP.