The maiden Benin Unity Cup, grassroots football tournament is set to kick off tomorrow (Thursday) as arrangements have been concluded for a colourful opening ceremony that will be followed by the curtain raiser match between Ovia North-East LG and Ikpoba-Okha LG teams.
The ceremony and the opening match, according to the organizing Committee led by Fred Newton Erhunmwunsee, Chairman of Edo Football Association, is scheduled to begin at 3pm at the Crescent Sports Club Complex on Iriri -Aruogba Road in Benin City.
The Executive Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, is expected to grace the occasion as Special Guest of Honour.
Other important personalities invited include the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa; Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku; Desmond Enabulele, Executive Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission; the honourable commissioner for Youth, Charity Amanyaemwo and others.
The vision bearer and sponsor of the Benin Unity Cup, Senator Neda Imasuen, will be on ground for the opening ceremony and kickoff formalities.
In the fixtures released by the Organising Committee of the tournament Ovia North-East LG and Ikpoba-Okha LG teams have been paired against each other in the opening match, scheduled for Thursday at the Crescent Sports Club. Kick off time is 3pm while the rest fixtures have been moved to Saturday, November 22.
In the fixtures, Egor Local Government team has been paired against Uhunmwode LG at 10:00am while
Oredo LG v Ovia Southwest LG will be played by 12pm and Orhionmwon LG v Oredo LG will come up by 2pm at the same venue.
On Match Day 2, Friday 28 – Ikpoba-Okha and Egor LGAs will open the day’s activities at 10am, followed by Uhunmwode LG and Ovia North-East LG at 12pm.
Ovia Southwest LG v Orhionmwon LG, and Oredo 2 v Oredo 1(2pm) are scheduled for Saturday.
Ovia North-East LG and Egor have been scheduled to begin Match Day 3 on Friday December 5 by 9am at the Same Crescent Sports Club Complex. Ikpoba-Okha and Uhunmwode LGs match will follow at 11am.
Oredo 1 v Orhionmwon LGs (1PM) and Ovia South-West Oredo 2 (3pm) will complete the group stage games.
The semi finals have been scheduled for Saturday, December 13 while the third place match and finals have been scheduled to hold on Saturday, December 20 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
The Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr. Fred Newton, said all arrangements have been concluded to ensure a smooth and hitchfree tournament. He commended the cup donor and sponsor, Senator Neda Imasuen, for making sure that the funds for the tournament were made available on time.
According to the Edo FA Chairman, all the participating Local Government representatives have been mobilized with transportation logistics with jerseys for their various teams provided as promised.
“The Committee has worked tirelessly in putting everything in place. We are fully prepared to deliver a well organised and exciting tournament that will not only promote unity but also serves as a platform for discovering new football talents,” he enthused.
The Benin Unity Cup, proudly sponsored by Senator Neda Imasuen, is a project designed to identify and develop young footballers across Edo South Senatorial District with plans to provide opportunities for international exposure and overseas clubs opportunities for standout talents.
Discussion about this post