At the El-Wak Sports Stadium on Sunday, Social Security Bank (SSB Bank) defeated National Investment Bank (NIB) 5-4 on penalties in the finals to win this year's All Banks Football Association (ABFA) gala competition.

The match, which ended 0-0, saw SSB scoring all their five kicks as against four by NIB. On their way to the finals, SSB eliminated The Trust Bank (TTB) on 1-0, beat Bank of Ghana, the defending champions 5-3 on penalties and accounted for Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) 1-0.

NIB edged out Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) 4-3 on penalties, beat Ecobank 1-0, and eliminated Standard Chartered Bank (Stanchart) on 1-0. Bank of Ghana ladies team, The Cedi Queens won the Ladies trophy by beating SSB 3-0.

Nicholas Ashitey of NIB was adjudged the best player of the tournament. ADB won the Fair Play award and the Goal king title went to Justice Anarfi of GCB.

The trophies were presented to the men and women champions with a cash prize of 500,000 cedis each and two fair play trophies for the men and women’s competition.

Other institutions that took part in the one-day competition sponsored by The Trust Bank were the Metropolitan and Allied Bank (MAB), Barclays Bank Ghana Limited, Stanbic Bank Ghana Limited, Merchant Bank Ghana Limited and International Commercial Bank (ICB).

Mr Daniel Antwi-Boasiako, Chairman of the ABFA praised the participants for their sportsmanship throughout the games, aimed at fostering good relationship between the financial institutions.

He expressed the hope that come next year, all the financial institutions would take part in the annual event. Mr Jean M. Macarbreucq, Managing Director of the Trust Bank presented trophies and prizes to the winners.

The competition was sponsored by The Trust Bank (TTB), which presented four trophies and a sponsorship package to the All Banks Association towards this year’s banks football gala competition in Kumasi at the weekend.

According to Mr Isaac-Hemeng, General Manager of the bank, the presentation forms part of activities drawn up to commemorate the fifth anniversary celebrations of the banking fraternity and to strengthen the relationship between the banks in the country.

Mr Daniel Antwi-Boasiako, Chairman of the Association, expressed appreciation to the Trust Bank and said the annual gala competition is to among other things reduce stress associated with banking and to enable their members to exercise their muscles.