The second edition of the Plateau Christian Cup came to an exciting close on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at the Rochas School football field, as COCIN LCC Hwolshe defeated ECWA Bishara Two Jenta Adamu 1–0 to emerge champions of the 2025 tournament.
The winning goal came in the 66th minute courtesy of Tongkit Raymond of COCIN Hwolshe, who also received the Best Behaved Player award for his sportsmanship. Other individual awards included Gyang Amos of ECWA Bishara Two, a former Plateau United player, who emerged as the Highest Goal Scorer, and Gobum Rotduwe of Mighty Jets, who was named Best Goalkeeper.
A total of ten teams from different churches and ministries across Plateau State participated in the competition, which was organized by the Lighthouse Rescue Sports Outreach (LRSO) to promote unity, discipline, and evangelism through sports.
Speaking to journalists, Choji David Bot, Project Manager of the Plateau Christian Cup 2025, described the tournament as a great success.
“It has been fulfilling; we’ve done our best and God has helped us. This year’s edition was better than the last, and the main goal remains to groom men and women in sports within the church. We are using sports as a platform to preach Christ and encourage churches to establish sports ministries,” he said.
Also reflecting on the event, Evangelist Habila James Gyang, Director of Technical for the Plateau Christian Cup, highlighted the high level of discipline and unity displayed throughout the competition.
“Even after the final whistle, both teams showed love and respect. We witnessed great discipline, no major injuries, and true sportsmanship both on and off the pitch. The tournament showcased players with outstanding potential, some of whom could attract national scouts for youth and senior teams,” he stated.
He added that both finalists—COCIN Hwolshe and ECWA Bishara Two—will go on to represent Plateau State at the upcoming Nigeria Christian Cup, expressing optimism that the Plateau contingent would perform excellently at the national level.
Reverend Dr. William Istifanus John, Chairman of RCC Hwolshe, praised the initiative for fostering unity among Christian youths across denominations.
“I’m glad to see our youths coming together as one in Christ through sports. There was no division—no ECWA, no COCIN. Everyone played as a team, showing that we are united in Christ Jesus,” he remarked.
Similarly, Lawrenzo Yakubu Gotao from Karl Kumi University commended the organizers, noting that the tournament not only promotes unity but also helps curb youth restiveness.
“This kind of competition reduces youth restiveness and provides an opportunity for young people to showcase their talents. We plan to take sports more seriously in our institution after witnessing this,” he said.
The Plateau Christian Cup, now in its second edition, continues to serve as a vital platform for using sports to promote peace, unity, and the message of Christ among the youth in Plateau State.
