Michael Ogbebor(the boy is good), the sole sponsor of the Oba of Benin under 18 football tournament organised by the Edo State Football Association (EDFA), has vowed to take the grassroots tournament to the pinnacle with an assurance that from 2025 edition winning teams would be sponsored on a tour of international engagements in Sweden and Denmark to sharpen their skills.
He gave the assurance in a telephone conversation with the organisers of the second edition of the tournament from his base in the USA on Saturday afternoon.
His wife, Vera, who represented him at a media parley/draw of the competition held inside the Media Centre of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, promised that she will always stand by her husband in his desire to give back to the society where he was years back a teenage soccer star.
In his own submission, Fred Newton Erunmwunse, Chairman of the Edo FA, thanked the sponsor and his wife for their resolve to invest in a better future for the up and coming soccer stars with a promise to ensure that the tournament meets acceptable standards in all ramifications.
Vice Chairman of the Edo FA, Paul Ojesekhoba, while reeling out the format, rules and regulations of the tournament advised the participating teams to stick by them. He told the teams that the FA is not interested in foisting a winner on the participating teams but in ensuring that the best team comes out victorious.
He disclosed that what matters most to the FA is the disciplinary actions as displayed by the teams throughout the duration of the tournament. This he asserted will encourage the sponsor to do more in future tournaments.
The tournament commences with a screening of players of the participating teams by 1pm on Sunday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, while the first round matches kick off at the Crescent Sports Club ground situated at Irriri on Tuesday, November 10th.
The competition, with 19 teams participating in it, will be rounded up on December 26th(Boxing Day) at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium with the winners taking home N1.5million; second placed team carting home N750,000 and the third placed team receiving N500,000.
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