Benin City- The much publicized second edition of the Betsy Obaseki female football tournament kicked off in Benin city, the Edo state capital amidst funfair with a draw conducted for participating teams into group of four as well as the unveiling of a customized branded football for the competition.

The tournament which is the biggest football pre- season game recognized by the Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF) is the only football event in the history of Nigeria football either in the male or female category that has gained accolades both nationally and internationally.
The 13 clubs which are drawn into four groups are expected to do battle with each other for the prize money of #5million between september7th through 17th, 2022, while an interlude of sideline seminar entitled “say no to drug abuse” would hold on the September, 15th 2022.
The seminar, according to the initiator of the tournament would play host to wives of the 36 state governors in Nigeria, while officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA) will be the chief facilitator of the talk show.
Speaking at the venue of the colour draw for the game event on Wednesday night, the initiator of the championship and wife of the state governor, Mrs.  Betsy Obaseki said the essence of the competition is to engage  young girls and boys  to say no to illicit use of drugs, adding that drug abuse is becoming a social menace in our society.
She lamented that drug abuse is beginning to wear the look of pandemic amongst our youths and more worrisome is the fact that both the unmarried and married ones in our society are fast getting involved in this unwholesome act.
Disclosing that the prize money for this year’s tournament stands at #5million as against last year’s #3million, Mrs.  Obaseki revealed that the increment became necessary to make it more attractive even as she noted that a customized branded football is expected to be use throughout the duration of the championship.
Other prize money for the event are, runners up,  #3million, third place, #1.5, while  consolation prize money would be given to other participating teams.
High point of the event was the unveiling of the branded customized football for the event which had BOWFT crested on it.