Edo South Senatorial district football landscape on Friday, October 24, takes a new architectural structure when the Benin Unity Football Cup, sponsored by Senator representing Edo South Senatorial District, Neda Imasuen, was announced in Benin City, platinumnewsng.com is reporting.
The tournament set up to groom young football talents from the seven local government areas in the senatorial district —Oredo, Ovia South West, Egor, Ovia North East, Orhionmwon, Ikpoba Okha, and Uhunmwode will kick off on November 20 and climax on December 20.
The Benin City Unity Cup was born during the Benin Unity Summit, where Senator Imasuen donated three trophies for the seven local government areas in Edo South Senatorial District, during a meeting of well-meaning individuals.
The eight participating teams will be getting a set of jerseys for 22 players courtesy of the tournament sponsor.
The draw conducted by Edo State Commissioner for Youths, Hon. Charity Amayaenvbo, saw Ovia North East, Ikpoba-Okah, Egor and Uhumwomde placed in group A, while Oredo 1, Ovia South West, Orhiomwon and Oredo 2 are placed in group B.
Champions will go home with 1 million naira, second second-placed team with 700,000, the third with 500,000, and the fourth with 300,000 naira respectively
Speaking at the tournament unveiling and press conference, Hon. Idehen Ebomwonyi, “I must commend you for this initiative and by God’s grace, it will be a yearly event. Let’s be reminded that football is a salient tool to expose hidden talents, foster unity and enrich our culture.”
“The senator has thought it wise to set this up and I believe we will discover new Julius Agahowa, Baldwin Bazuaye and other young talents who emerged from the district.”
The chairman of the Edo Football Association, Fred Newton, commended the sponsor, Senator Neda Imasuen, for the groundbreaking tournament while assuring that the tournament will also witness scouts from abroad.
“First of its kind in the senatorial district is a tournament amongst seven local governments in Edo state — will stay beyond even when the Senator is out of office.”
“We need to take this very seriously, and we will be getting scouts to come select talents to represent the state at the national level and abroad.”
In his goodwill message, the DG NIS, Hon. Philip Shaibu said the Senator is initiating a giant program he will live to appreciate for the rest of his life. He, however, assured that the NIS will partner with the tournament to discover talents, trained in the facilities and nurture them to stardom.
Senator Imasuen explained that his reason for initiating this is not because of his current position, but because it’s a move to help the state and country’s football revival drive.
“This is a farm for football talents, and we will ensure that this tournament has the presence of international scouts on the ground to help discover talents. This may have started late, but it will be a great thing.”
“This is not because I’m a senator, but now in a good place to do something advantageous to our youths, not just for political gains.
The tournament, whose grand finale is scheduled for Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, will feature top government functionaries and football stakeholders, who will see group matches and stages played at the Irhirhi Sports Ground and University of Uniben Sports Centre.
Present were DG National Institute for Sports, Comrade Philip Shaibu, Executive Directors Edo Sports Commission, Hon. Frank Ilaboya, Mrs Sabina Chikere, Desmond Enabulele, Elizabeth Ativie, aaaa