Senator Neda Imasuen, who represents Edo South in the red chambers of the National Assembly, has affirmed that Edo State have an abundance of talent “but talent left idle slips away,” adding “we are here to awaken it.”
He was speaking on Thursday evening at the Crescent Football Club Sports Complex, Irhirhi, Benin City, on the occasion of the commencement of the inaugural Benin Unity Cup contest which he midwifed.
Senator Imasuen said the initiative was his way of giving back to the community while offering young people a clear pathway to opportunity.
“This is not a one-time thing,” the Edo South lawmaker said. “We are building something that will continue every year, something intangible but powerful, a platform where talents can be discovered and nurtured.”
He disclosed that the goal was to uncover young stars who could go on to shape the national economy through sport. He revealed that football scouts from Sweden and other countries had already arrived in Benin City to monitor the tournament.
“Football is now one of the biggest industries in the world,” he said.
He commended the Local Organising Committee for its “steadfast effort” in bringing his vision to life and hinted at plans to invite international partners to future editions.
“At the end of this tournament, something great will come out of this, I can assure you,” he added.
The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Desmond Enabulele, described the competition as “a timely intervention for youth development” and announced that the commission would begin deploying its scouts immediately.
“Those discovered here must not be abandoned,” he said. “We will place them in our feeder teams or, where possible, open doors for them internationally. This tournament must become a pipeline of opportunity.”
Edo FA Chairman, Mr Fred Newton Erhunmwense, went further, appealing to senators from Edo North and Central to invest in similar initiatives to keep youths engaged and off the path of crime.
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