By Simeon OSAJIE
The Senator representing Edo South Senatorial District in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Neda Imasuen on Friday officially flagged off “The Benin Unity Cup” Football Tournament.
The tournament set up to groom young football talents from the seven local government areas that made up Edo South Senatorial District of the state, namely; Oredo, Ovia South-West, Egor, Ovia North-East, Orhionmwon, Ikpoba Okha, and Uhunmwode will kick off on November 20 and climax on December 20, 2025.
The Benin City Unity Cup was born during the Benin Unity Summit, where Senator Imasuen donated three trophies for the seven local government areas in Edo South, during a meeting of well-meaning individuals of the senatorial district.
The eight participating teams will be getting a set of jerseys for 22 players courtesy of the tournament sponsor.
The draw conducted by Edo State Commissioner for Youths, Hon. Charity Amayaenvbo, saw Ovia North-East, Ikpoba-Okah, Egor and Uhumwomde placed in group A, while Oredo One, Ovia South-West, Orhionmwon and Oredo Two are placed in group B.
Winner will go home with N1 Million, while second-placed team will part home with the sum of N700,000, the third place will go home with N500,000, and the fourth position will go home with N300,000 respectively
In a brief remarks, Senator Neda Imasuen who initiated the football tournament explained that his reason for initiating this is not because of his current position, but because it’s a move to help the state and country’s football revival drive.
According to him, “This is a farm for football talents, and we will ensure that this tournament has the presence of international scouts on the ground to help discover talents. This may have started late, but it will be a great thing.
“This is not because I’m a senator, but now in a good place to do something advantageous to our youths, not just for political gains.”
Speaking at the tournament unveiling ceremony at Press Unit Conference Hall of the Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia Stadium, Hon. Idehen Ebomwonyi said, “I must commend Senator Neda Imasuen for this initiative and by God’s grace, it will be a yearly event. Let’s be reminded that football is a salient tool to expose hidden talents, foster unity and enrich our culture.
“The senator has thought it wise to set this up and I believe we will discover new Julius Agahowa, Baldwin Bazuaye and other young talents who emerged from the district.”
The chairman of the Edo Football Association, Fred Newton, commended the sponsor, Senator Neda Imasuen, for the groundbreaking tournament while assuring that the tournament will also witness scouts from abroad.
According to him, “This is first of its kind in Edo South Senatorial District of the state and it is a tournament amongst seven local governments in Edo South and will stay beyond even when the Senator is out of office.
“We need to take this very seriously, and we will be getting scouts to come select talents to represent the state at the national level and abroad.”
In his goodwill message, the Director General, (DG), National Institute of Sports (NIS), Hon. Philip Shaibu said the Senator Neda Imasuen is initiating a giant program he will live to appreciate for the rest of his life. He, however, assured that the NIS will partner with the tournament to discover talents, trained in the facilities and nurture them to stardom.
The tournament grand finale is scheduled to take place at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, and will feature top government functionaries and football stakeholders, who will see group matches and stages played at the Irhirhi Sports Ground and University of Uniben Sports Centre.
Present were DG National Institute for Sports, Comrade Philip Shaibu, Executive Directors Edo Sports Commission, Hon. Frank Ilaboya, Mrs Sabina Chikere, Desmond Enabulele, Elizabeth Ativie. among others.