By Joseph isokpehi
Edo state Football Association at the weekend kick start the maiden Edition of Benjamin Tanimu under 15 Football Tournament in Edo state with a media Parley which held at the media centre of the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin City.
The well attended event saw the chairman of the Edo FA Fred Newton Erhunmwunse unveiling the trophies, individual awards, Balls as provided by the tournament sponsor Benjamin Tanimu who ply his trade in England with crowley Town Fc.
The former Eagles Wings Fc of Benin City youngster who has promise to sustain the tournament to encourage grassroots Football in the state, will give out one million naira to the winners to be shared among the three top teams and the two finalists given customise jerseys during the closing event at the Samuel ogbemudia stadium, Benin City.
The chairman of Edo FA Fred Newton Erhunmwunse told the gathering that the FA will put up a good event as the Loc is ever ready as usual to deliver a good tourney for the youth teams, he disclose that the winner will go home with the giant trophy and N500.000.00, while the runner up will also get a trophy and the sum of N300.000.00, and the third place winner will smile home with a trophy and N200.000.00 in addition to other souvenirs.
Speaking further, the FA Boss said
the organising committee will have to use the birth certificates and other means known to the FA to screen players for the tournament that will kick off tentatively March 1st and climax April 18th 2025 with the preliminary round of matches at Crescent Sports
Club, iriri, for teams in Edo south just as matches will also hold in other centres in Edo central and Edo North districts of the state
On his part the vice chairman Edo FA Paul Ojeisekhoba said the committee put in place for the tournament will carry out their duties very well to ensure a successful event but however ask the participating teams to be discipline as the FA will not hesitate to wild the big stick on earing teams during the competition.
Earlier, the Executive director representing Edo North in Edo state Sports Commission Hon Frank ilaboya commended Edo FA for engaging the youth of the state with football activities since they came on board in 2023, he noted that Edo FA is the most active in the country as they dole out different events every time, he tasked the youth, teams to make use of the opportunity provided by the FA to develop their chosen career. On his part former Nigeria international now an executive director representing Edo South in Edo state sports commission, Baldwin Bazuaye ( MON) told the organisers to ensure the screening of players for the event is well carried out to avoid age cheat.
Meanwhile the representative of the cup donor, Mr Darlington Ogbeifun of the Eagles wings Fc commended the super Eagles defender Benjamin Tanimu for giving back to society, he encourage the organisers to organise a good tournament that will help discover talents in the state.
According to the Edo FA, the registration for the tournament that will take place across the three senatorial districts of the state will end on February 20th 2025, while interested teams should visit the Edo FA secretariat at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City for details.
Present at the colourful ceremony were Board members of the Edo FA, Football stakeholders, coaches, the press and executive directors of the Edo state sports Commission.
