Winner of Benin Unity Football Tourney to pocket N1m

Organisers have said champions of the Senator Neda Imasuen sponsored grassroots football tournament, Benin Unity Cup, would smile home with N1m prize money. The grassroots football competition billed to kick-off on November 20 will feature eight teams from the seven Local Government Authorities in Edo South Senatorial district. While Oredo Local Government is expected to […]

Organisers have said champions of the Senator Neda Imasuen sponsored grassroots football tournament, Benin Unity Cup, would smile home with N1m prize money.

The grassroots football competition billed to kick-off on November 20 will feature eight teams from the seven Local Government Authorities in Edo South Senatorial district.

While Oredo Local Government is expected to produce two teams, the remaining six Local Government Authorities would enter one team each.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, the cup donor, Senator Imasuen, representing Edo South Senatorial District said the tournament was conceived as a platform to nurture young talents at the grassroots, promote community engagement, and strengthen the bond that holds Edo people together.

“When you empower people, it’s not just giving them jobs in your normal ministries and departments but helping them to be who they are, and developing their talents to make sure that they themselves can also touch the lives of others,” he said.

Meanwhile, a former Deputy Governor of Edo State and Director General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Comrade Philip Shuaibu, commended the Senator for keying into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu in the area of sports.

He promised to contribute his quota to ensure the success of the tournament.

On his party, Edo State Commissioner of Sports, Charity Amayanvbho, noted that football is a veritable tool for youths empowerment, capable of reducing youths restiveness and other social vices in the state.

He called on other National Assembly members from the state to emulate Senator Imasuen by replicating the tournament in their constituencies.

According to the organisers, overall winners would receive N1m cash prize, first runners-up N700,000, while teams that finish in third and fourth positions would get N500,000 and N400,000 respectively.