… EFA boss vows to pursue grassroots football rebirth, career opportunities for Edo child
The Chairman, Edo State Football Association, Fred Newton Erhunmeunsee has vowed that his Edo FA board will prioritise grassroots football development and explore every opportunity to use same for the benefits of Edo child in their pursuit of professional football career.
The Edo FA boss stated this on Friday during the draws ceremony of Bright Osayi Samuel Under-13 Football Competition which was held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
Erhunmwunsee who called on all well meaning Edo sons and daughters both home and in diaspora to emulate the sponsor of the tournament for Edo children.
Super Eagles and Fenerbache defender Bright Osayi Samuel expressed the confidence that with adequate sponsorship and support for his programme, Edo is capable of producing football stars like Bright Samuel Osayi, Victor Osimhen, Austin Okocha and Lionel Messi, noting that the raw talents abound in the state.
During the draws conducted by the Chairman of the Edo FA Local Organizing Committee (LOC) led by Mr. Paul Ojoesekhoba, it was revealed that a total of thirty-nine teams have registered to participate in the maiden edition of Bright Osayi Samuel U-13 male football competition scheduled to kick off on Thursday, August 1.
The opening ceremony is scheduled to hold at the Crescent Sports Club Field, Benin City, at 2:00 pm.
Out of the 39 teams registered for the competition, 29 teams are drawn from Edo South to fight for four slots while two teams each are expected to qualify from Edo Central Senatorial District
and Edo North Senatorial District respectively for Super 8 finals designed to hold in Benin city.
Meanwhile, three teams, Royal Force FC, Aidia Sports Club and Delights FC from the twenty-nine registered teams in Edo South Senatorial District are drawn bye and will join the remaining 13 teams from the 26 teams in the preliminary stage at the round of 16 till the last four.
The last four teams in Edo South will join up with two teams each from Edo North Senatorial District and Edo Central Senatorial District for the Super 8 where the eventual winners will emerge.
As part of the rules guiding the competition, players born from January 1, 2012 are the ones eligible for the competition as stipulated by the laws of the competition as the organisers and sponsor of the competition are vehement against age cheat.
The winners of the competition will cart home a whooping amount of One Million Naira (N1, 000,000) while the second and third placed teams will go home with Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N750, 000) and Five Hundred Thousand Nairas (N500, 000) respectively.
The fourth-placed team will receive a consolation prize of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N250, 000) only.
Full Draws/ Fixtures:
Elites FC vs Shooting Arrows
Edo Young Stars vs Shavik FC
Bright Ways vs Dynamic Star
Freedom FC vs Royal FC
Baldwin Bazuaye Football Academy vs Edo Dynamo FC
Fubalive vs Crecent Sports
Trades Fair FC vs Rockers FC
Ineh Stars vs Efe Uroh City
Paulson Football Academy vs Sporting Blazers
Angels FC vs Ogbomo FC
Magnifico Sporting Football Academy vs Restoration Prayer FC
Ugbowo Bombers vs Santos FC
Serving The Great FC vs MFM FC
