Benue FA floats Chairman's Cup, to reward best performing Local Council Football boss

 

Barr. Paul Edeh has revealed plans by the board of Benue State Football Association (BSFA) to organise annual FA Chairman's Cup.

The philanthropist and President of Ratels Sports Development Foundation (RSDF) who made the disclosure  during the maiden General Congress organised by the current BSFA leadership in Makurdi at the weekend, said the Chairman's Cup will be competed for teams drawn from the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

He also announced that at the end of the competition, the overall best team will smile home with a cash sum of a N1 million and trophy, while runners-up and third-placed sides will get N700, 000 and N300, 000 respectively.

Barr. Paul Edeh also said that before hand, there will be Board Members and Local Council Football Chairman's Cup which will take place at the various communities and constituencies' levels.

"As a board, we are not leaving any stone unturned in ensuring that every talent anywhere in the state is identified and nurtured. This is one of our major move to return the state to the glory days.

"Alongside grassroots development, we will run football as a business, because gone are the days when the game was just for fun. In the business aspect of football, everyone from the players, coaches, up to the clubs, families and communities are beneficiaries.

"All hands need to be on deck to drive the process, so that together we can achieve more," he said.

Also, BSFA boss revealed that the board will towards the end of every year reward best performing Local Government football chairman with a brand new car.

He also expressed the readiness of the FA to honour politicians and others who distinguish themselves with their contributions towards grassroots football development in Benue State.

Aside from the board hierarchy, the LGA Football Chairmen and Secretaries as well as Club Representatives and other affiliate bodies attended the General Congress. The State Director of Sports, Comrade Philip Ter Nongu was among dignitaries who graced the event.

NFF lauds Edeh, vows to support Benue FA grassroot football drive

 

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has pledged his full support to the present administration of the Benue State Football Association, BSFA, led by the Chairman, Barr. Paul Edeh.

During a courtesy visit on the NFF Secretariat held at the Sunday Dankaro House in Abuja, the NFF President praised the State's FA vision and dedication in developing football from the grassroots.

While expressing his admiration and confidence in the Barr. Edeh led team, Gusua expressed optimism that BSFA  programmes will achieve great success through its emphasis on grassroots development and noted that it was in tandem with his board's vision to develop the game in Nigeria, adding that the BSFA would get the full backing of the apex football body.

"I want to assure you that under my watch we shall do everything possible to support your leadership. When Hon. Icheen met me to communicate that she wass not going to contest again. I told her I don't want to talk about that now, that she should give me a little time to think about it.  But later, Barrister Edeh told me his intention to contest for the Benue FA Chairman. It was then i felt a little bit relieved, because the whole essence is to get people that are interested and committed to the game of football to lead, because if we don't have people that are interested and committed into positions of leadership and give them authority, we're deceiving ourselves. God in his own wisdom will see us through to make sure we achieve our goals as FA  chairman and NFF president respectively”. He said. 

The country's number one football citizen also said he was deeply honoured by the presence and presentation of the delegation, stressing that the visit by the BSFA was the first of its kind by any FA in Nigeria to the apex football body in the country and urged them to sustain such a path of leadership.

"I'm proud of you Barr Paul, honestly because your board is the first  FA board that is making this kind of visit in the history of the NFF, I stand to be corrected. This is a pointer to the fact that your leadership as Benue state Chairman will be exceptional".

Earlier, the Chairman of the BSFA and President, Ratels Sports Development Foundation, RSDF  Barr. Edeh, while affirming his enduring passion for Sports within and without the State, said the reason for the visit  was to interact with the first citizen of football in Nigeria, understand his vision for football in order to ensure that the programmes designed by the current board of the BSFA are not at variance with that of the NFF board aimed at achieving the most desirable possible ways of grassroots football development. 

"When I made up my mind to contest for the Benue state FA Chairman, I first swept through your manifesto so that I can understand the vision of the man who's currently the first citizen of football in Nigeria and one fundamental vision was very prominent which caught my attention which was your vision to developed football from the grassroots. 

"Today, I must confess that the President and I have a couple of similarities. The first is the fact that the President has two women in his board and so do I. The President’s General Secretary is a PHD holder and so is my Secretary General. As you can see Sir, I am following in your footsteps”. He said. 

Edeh, while also thanking the NFF President for granting his board audience within a short notice, appealed to the NFF President to assist the State FA utilize her football facilities for their original purposes, adding that Benue State had made tremendous contributions to football in Nigeria but current infrastructural deficit if not urgently addressed would ebb the culture of football in the State and by extension, the country. 

"As an FA board, we decided not  to run our administration without first consulting and understanding what the vision of the president is regarding the growth of football at the FA level. So we're here to hear what your visions are so that when we run along with it, we'll be running in line with your vision and accomplish it head-on"

Sharing the board's encounter with some stakeholders in Benue State over the course of their previous visits, the astute football administrator and erudite technocrat of varying values, further advocated the need to embrace a policy direction that encourages the combination of Sports and education.

Barr Edeh also decried the high cost of football in the country which has militated against the growth of the game at the grassroots and urged the President to come up with a policy direction that would lead to the crash of the prices of football in the country and by extension Benue State to enhance easy access to balls. 

A high point of the Courtesy Call was a presentation of a variety of two big hamper baskets of fruits reminiscent of Benue State as a food basket of the Nation. This was in addition to other memorabilia handed to the NFF President by the leadership of the BSFA to symbolize why the State is regarded as the food FAs to reckon with under the astute leadership of Barr Edeh. 

The event also saw the presence of other notable figures, including NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi and NFF Board members Mrs. Margaret Icheen and Alhaji Sharifx Rabi’u Inuwa popularly known ~as~ “Ahlan”

Benue FA Board demands return of Otukpo Township Stadium

 

Benue State Football Association (BSFA) led by its vibrant Chairman Barrister Paul Edeh has demanded the return of the ancient Township Stadium in Otukpo to the FA, to enable teams to train and host championships.

Edeh, his entire FA Executive Board Members, affiliates, and other stakeholders made the crucial demand when they stormed the then football ground in Otukpo.

Coincidentally, the youths of the area who are eager to reclaim their playing pitch which was allegedly taken over by the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), a federal government agency, gathered in protest.

While they protested, the FA board in unison walked around and prayed to God to grant them their heart's desire, just as they appealed to the Benue State Government for its intervention.

Speaking, a popular and former Benue State-born player, Eugene Agaigbe, expressed his sadness over the state of the pitch which has been turned into an abandoned building site.

Agaigbe who also played for Lobi Stars of Makurdi said, "I feel very bad and disappointed when I came around after many years to see that this place has been turned into another thing entirely. I played here as far back as 1988/89 and later I came back to play for Obeya Babes in 1991.

"Throughout my football career, this is where I made my name. Now that I'm a coach I feel very bad because I should have taken my team to play on this same ground."

A former Councillor in the area, Honourable Francis Ijiga, said, "This land from the early 80s was designated as the Township Stadium in Otukpo. At that time, many clubs from within and outside Otukpo used to train and play football competitions here.

"The ground produced many football stars we heard of in the past. Unfortunately, in the early 90s, the land was taken over by other people and they converted and later abandoned it as against the original plan by the government that approved it as a football pitch.

Also speaking, BSFA board member and former organizing secretary of Otukpo Local Government Area, Mr. Godwin Oyiagba revealed that NCC took over the place over two decades ago with a promise to provide an alternative venue for the Township Stadium.

"This is the only stadium we have in Idoma land where I raised a team and that same team got to the National Division One League."

A former Match Commissioner and current BSFA Vice Chairman Alex Awunah said, "I have commissioned matches here in the late 80s and early 90s. This ground is very strategic for the youth of Otukpo and Benue State in general."

On his part, the FA Chairman, Barrister Edeh said, "The bible instructed that no one should take away the ancient landmark. The takeover of the Township Stadium is a clear indication that the ancient landmark has been moved.

"Teams especially in Otukpo don't have any place to train or play. They have been relegated to use primary and secondary schools and most times they are not granted permission. 

"We have come to reclaim the land. Look at the youths roaming the streets, they want to make a name for themselves but they can't because there's no place to use for training. In fact, in the last RATELS Benue Football League which was held a few weeks ago, no team from Otukpo participated because they don't have a place to train, let alone register to participate. 

"Just as His Royal Majesty said, the children who are birthed now are the ones who will reap from the legacies we will leave behind. I can assure you that nothing can be done with this abandoned building project anymore. The building is no more significant than having a football pitch here.

"There's no land that one can get for a Township Stadium that is on a strategic location, as the place is in the heart of  Otukpo."

Meanwhile, Barrister Edeh and his entourage had visited the paramount ruler of Idoma Land, HIS Royal Majesty Dr. John Odogbo Elaigwu on a courtesy call.

Benue FA Election: Barrister Edeh promises to run all-inclusive football association

A leading candidate for the chairmanship seat of the Benue State Football Association, BEFA, Barrister Paul Edeh has promised to lead the association with honesty and absolute inclusivity. 

Barrister Edeh stated this on Monday while featuring as a guest on a popular sports WhatsApp platform, Family United by Football, FUBF's Personality Interview session.

He stressed the need for every state football association to have proper synergy with the Local Football Councils to spread the development of the sports at the grassroot which he promise to do in Benue if elected. 

The distinguished legal luminary also assured that his FA would collaborate with Benue State Government to upgrade facilities and also build more for areas necessary. 

"Under my watch, I will ensure that the Local FAs are empowered and given what is due to them. The Board under my watch will advocate that each Local FA develop its framework for developing the game in their local communities. I will see how local FAs will operate with so much vigor and commitment to developing the game at the grassroots.

"We will seek to collaborate with the state government and thankfully we have a dynamic leadership in the state today that listens and wants to see how the game of football progresses. We will empower the local FAs and see that they can do as much as they can," he said. 

Barr. Edeh who has been successfully screened and cleared to contest for the top seat in Benue State Football Association election scheduled for Saturday, June 17, 2023, promised to speed up the process of making football a source of revenue-generating avenue in the state. 

An honest philanthropist and the President of Ratels Sports Development Foundation, RSDF, Barrister Edeh told the platform his plans to encapsulate the FIFA Forward Programme initiative which rests on increasing investment in football development, more impact through the achievement of football development objectives, and continued oversight to ensure that all funds are used responsibly.

He also used the medium to pay glowing tribute to the incumbent chairperson of Benue State FA, Rt. Hon. Margaret Icheen for her foresight in advancing the course of football development in the state which he promised to build on if elected as the new FA Boss. 

"What I have done by way of partnering with the FA over the years is because of the commitment and capacity of the leader of Benue for football. Hon. Margaret Icheen. She has done so much for the betterment and growth of football in Benue state "Despite lack of funds, she has led the FA to make remarkable impacts which attracted a person like me to get involved."