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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The maiden Benin Unity Cup grassroots football tournament is set to kick off on Thursday, November 20, as arrangements have been concluded for a colourful opening ceremony that will be followed by the curtain-raiser match between Ovia North-East Local Government and Ikpoba-Okha Local Government teams.
The ceremony and the opening match, according to the Organising Committee led by Fred Newton Erhunmwunsee, Chairman of Edo Football Association, are scheduled to begin at 3 pm at the Crescent Sports Club Complex on Iriri-Aruogba Road in Benin City.
The governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, is expected to grace the occasion as the special guest of honour.
Invited dignitaries include the Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Dennis Idahosa; Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Blessing Agbebaku; Hon Amadin Desmond Enabulele, Executive Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission; the Honourable Commissioner for Youth, Charity Amanyaemwo, among others.
The sponsor of the Benin Unity Cup tournament, Senator Neda Imasuen, will be on the ground for the opening ceremony and kick-off formalities.
In other fixtures, Egor Local Government team has been paired against Uhunmwode LG at 10:00 am while Oredo LG v Ovia South-West (12 pm) and Orhionmwon v Oredo (2 pm) follow respectively at the same Crescent Sports Club.
On match day 2, Ikpoba-Okha and Egor LGAs will open the day’s activities on Friday, 28 November, at 10 am, followed by Uhunmwode LG and Ovia North-East match at 12 pm.
Ovia South-West v Orhionmwon LGs and Oredo 2 v Oredo 1 (2 pm) are scheduled for Saturday.
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Ovia North-East LG and Egor have been scheduled to begin match day 3 on Friday, 5 December, by 9 am at the same Crescent Sports Club Complex. Ikpoba-Okha and Uhunmwode LGs match will follow at 11 am.
Oredo 1 v Orhionmwon LGs (1 pm) and Ovia South-West v Oredo 2 (3 pm) will complete the group stage games.
The semi-finals have been scheduled for Saturday, 13 December, while the third-place match and finals have been scheduled to hold on Saturday, 20 December, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
The Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr Fred Newton, said all arrangements have been concluded to ensure a smooth and hitch-free tournament. He commended the cup donor and sponsor, Senator Neda Imasuen, for making sure that the funds for the tournament were made available on time.
According to the Edo FA chairman, all the participating local government representatives have been mobilised with transportation logistics, with jerseys for their various teams provided as promised.
“The committee has worked tirelessly in putting everything in place. We are fully prepared to deliver a well-organised and exciting tournament that will not only promote unity but also serve as a platform for discovering new football talents,” Newton said.
The Benin Unity Cup, proudly sponsored by Senator Neda Imasuen, is a project designed to identify and develop young footballers across the Edo South Senatorial District, with plans to provide opportunities for international exposure and overseas club opportunities for standout talents.
