Excitement is building as football’s emerging stars are poised for global recognition with the upcoming second edition of the Bright Osayi-Samuel U-13 Football competition as the kick-off date was this Thursday, April 24, announced at a media parley held to share details with the public.
The tournament billed to kick off on May 12, will feature teams from across the three senatorial districts of the state.
The event, which took place at the media centre, Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, witnessed the presence of top football personalities in the state and sports commission.
The Super Eagles defender who started on the street before getting to stardom said his growing up motivated him to host this tournament as he wished to give to the young kids on the street platform to excel.
Chairman of the Edo State Football Association, Fred Newton, thanked everyone for their support and looks forward to a bigger tournament this year. “Thank you for making football work in Edo, and to our brother, Bright Osayi-Samuel, who is the sole sponsor of this event, and the parents who have been behind this tournament since last year to ensure that everything is working fine.”
“I want to let you know that this tournament was recorded successful and is one of the best underage tournaments in Edo.”
“We look forward to good collaboration with the clubs and every stakeholder who will be involved in this year’s tournament.”
Representing the family, Mr. Osaro Osayi-Samuel, expressed his delight in returning home after many years while sharing with everyone how Bright has brought fame to the family.
“Bright is grateful to the efforts deployed to select these kids of actual age as it’s not an easy task to do.”
“It’s a great pleasure you are here. I’m so happy coming back to Benin as I graduated from the prestigious University of Benin.”
“We are a footballing family, but Bright has shone a light on the efforts of myself and his father,r who also played football, but not to his stage.”
The chairman of the Edo Sports Commission, Amadin Enabulele Desmond, in his brief speech, thanked Bright Osayi-Samuel for the initiative while assuring the tournament’s organizers of their full support for the tournament.
“We want to thank Bright for this tournament, and we want to assure them of our full support as this commission has the vision of raising stars from the grassroots.”
The tournament winners and runners-up will have their trophies to retain as a source of motivation for the kids. Additionally, the Best Behaved team will go home with a Fair-Play Trophy.
Other individual awards include the Most Valuable Player, the Highest Goalscorer, Best Defender, Best Tactical Approach Award and Man of the Match awards.
Eight sets of jerseys of 30 pieces per team would be given to the quarter-finalists in this year’s edition. The champions will go home with 1 million naira, second with ₦750,000 and the third with 500,000 naira.
Dynamo Academica Football Club is the defending champions of the tournament birthed in 2024.
Meanwhile, the Fernabache defender represented by Osayi-Samuel Osaro presented his Super Eagles Jersey to the Governor of the State, the Deputy Governor and the Chairman, Sports Commission.
Among personalities present at the Media parley include the Executive Director of Sports Development and Operation, Mrs Sabina Chikere, Executive director representing Edo South, Baldwin Bazuaye (MON), Executive director representing Edo North, Hon. Frank Ilaboya and other members of the Board.
Others are former Edo FA chairmen, Dr. Alabi Aisien, Comrade Roland Abu, Chairmaof n Nigeria Coaches Association, Edo Chapter, Felix, Former Edo FA Secretary, Victor Edokpahi, Council FA Chairmen, Retired Referees, Match Assessors, Ex-International among others.