As the 12th Edition of Pa Michael Imoudu memorial Football Tournament gets underway next month at Sabongida – Ora Owan West Local Government Area of Edo state, teams from across Nigeria have intensified their preparation for one of the oldest Youth Football Tournament in Edo state.
Organise by the Nigeria Federation of Youth soccer clubs ( FEYSOC) the under 18 Football carnival is in honour and memory of the First Labour Leader in Nigeria Pa Michael Aitokhaimen Omiunu Imoudu.
No doubt Sabongidda – Ora the administrative headquarters of Owan West Local Government Area will be very busy during the period of the tournament that has produce appreciable number of talents now plying their trades with top clubs within and outside the shores of Nigeria. The annual Football competition is competed for by Male and Female teams from the 18 Local Government Area of Edo state and privately owned teams from across Nigeria.
It would be recalled that Pa Michael Imoudu donated the trophy for grassroots Football development in Nigeria in the year 2000, and witnessed two Editions before his demise on July 22nd, 2005, The oke – Ora born first Labour Leader in Nigeria will be remembered for his advent of the trade union scene which brought unprecedented Militancy and radically activist dimension to the movement, as he came to limelight for leading over 3000 workers of the Railway Union to storm the colonial Government house based on some work place demand.
Uhunmwode Local Government Area is the defending champion in the male category while host Owan West Local Government Area are the Cup holders in the women’s category
Meanwhile, the National secretary of the Federation of Youth Soccer Clubs ( FEYSOC) organisers of the tournament, Alhaji A.S Luya commended the Authority of Owan West Local Government for sustaining the Football Tournament since it’s inception in the year 2000, he however thank the host Local Government chairman Hon Dickson Ahonsi for encouraging grassroots Football in the state, adding that Imoudu cup remain one of the oldest Football event in the state in honour of a son of the soil whose contributions to the present Labour movement in Nigeria can’t be wished away
The 2024 Edition of Pa Michael imoudu memorial Football tournament will run between 14th to 21st December 2024 at Sabongida – Ora, Owan west Local Government Area of Edo state.
Imoudu’s Legacies remained the leading source of inspiration to today’s generation of Labour Leaders and activists and would be remembered as a patriot, Nationalist and Pan Africanist, trade union organiser who gave his best to Labour movement, our nation and continent.a
