Edo FA plans bumper competition, holds one year anniversary seminar

Edo football Association led by veteran journalist Frank Illaboya has said the FA under his watch is bringing a mouth watering package for teams participating in this year’s FA cup in the state even as he marked one year in office with a two day coaching seminar where over 100 coaches in Edo state are participating.

The resource persons included former super eagles coach Shaibu Amodu, former Warri Wolves and Bayelsa united Coach, Solomon Ogbeide, former Super Eagles Coach , Alabi Aisien and Edo state Chairman referee Association , Faith Irabor

In his opening remarks at the event holding at the media center of the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium Ilaboya said the 2016 state FA cup would be the biggest ever organised in the history of football in the state not only in terms of organisation, but the prizes available for grab by the participating teams.

He said the prize money for the best team have been increased by over 400 per cent, from N50, 000 to N500, 000.

The Edo FA boss also said the first and second runner up would smile home with N300, 000 and N200, 000 respectively.

“Apart from the prize money, all the participating teams would go home with at least a gift.

“This is a far departure from what we used to have and the interest is to revive the game of football in the state.

“We are poised to achieving this in spite of the seeming financial challenges in the country and our special focus is the development of the game at the grass root levels.

“It is part of this reason that this seminar was put together in order to expose out coaches to new trend in the game because, a coach is only good as his last match,” he stated.

The state commissioner for Sports, Presley Ediagbonye, while declaring the seminar opened, noted that history of the game of football in the country would not be complete without the mentioning Edo.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Adesuwa Omoruyi, he said the coaches must at all time avail themselves of new ideas in the sport to be able to perform optimally.