Chairman of Oredo Local Government Council of Edo State, Tom Obaseki, has announced plans to nurture international soccer stars with his council’s “catch them young” 5-A side Football Championship slated to commence on Thursday, May 2nd with the final coming up on Saturday, July 13th.
Addressing a press conference at the council’s Secretariat in Benin City, the Mayor disclosed that the “competition will have students from various schools in Oredo Local Government Area battling it out on the pitch to be crowned the ultimate 5-Aside Football Champion with various individual and collective prizes to be won.”
Going further, he affirmed that “to ensure sustainability of this initiative we are partnering with the Edo State Sports Commission, 70s Grill and Edo State Drivers Welfare Scheme.
“We have also secured the participation of an international scout to ensure that outstanding talents are given international exposure. This is a one of a kind talent development sport initiative by any local government in Nigeria and we believe that at the end of this event international stars will be born in Oredo.”
In his submission, Chairman of the state Sports Commission, Yusuf Ali, who was present at the briefing, alluded to the fact that Obaseki often dreams big about the development of sports in his council area.
“He said that he has scouts coming for our 5 Aside. Mr. Chairman, I must thank you not only putting the event up but when you have scout knowing that one or two(talents) could be picked. In the nearest future they could turn professional. And they’re making money for themselves, for their family and also for the state,” Ali submitted.
The competition is in the category of male and female teams in both primary and secondary schools.
