22 Schools battle for Gregory Imafidon Foundation Gold Cup

By Patience Ogbo

 School sport development has been given a boost as the 4th edition of the Gregory Imafidon Foundation youth football championship  is set to kick off in Benin City Edo State Nigeria .

The championship slated to hold from March 24th to April 1st 2021 will have twenty two secondary schools in Edo State participating for the gold cup, scholarships and other prizes. 

The tournament sponsored by Mr. Gregory Imafidon an Edo State-born ex-youth footballer and  practicing Family Nurse Practitioner based in Dallas, Texas, USA  said the 4th edition of the football tournament tagged “Catch them young, kick against crime” will go a long way in reviving school sports in Edo State as well as checking vices like cultism in secondary schools. 

Mr. Imafidon said “The aim of this tournament is to bring back school sports in Edo State , engage these children  meaningfully  to help reduce the rate of crime like cultism .On behalf of the vulnerable youths in Edo State, I say thank you to all who have seen the need to make Edo State a better and a crime-free State by contributing towards the success of this move. We cannot afford to lose any more youth to crime.  The lives of our youth are valuable'".

He added that  aside the gold cup for the winning school, other prizes to be won  include " A golden ball with cash prize for the best player, cash prize for highest goal scorer, best behaved or disciplined school, best goalkeeper, best defender and best midfielder"

It can be recalled that  previous editions which focused  on youth clubs, saw young footballers  from Edo, Delta, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Anambra, Imo, and Abia States going home with scholarships , cash, jerseys among other incentives to boost their  education and personal development. 

Urging other well meaning sons and daughters of Edo State at home and abroad to key into the initiative , Mr Imafidon calls  for donations .

"In our bid to contribute our quota to help reduce the crime rate in Edo State,we are requesting sponsors and donation   from groups and individuals who are willing to help and positively touch the lives of our youth through empowerment and scholarship donation. Nothing is too small " he said. 

It can  be recalled that two outstanding players, Emeka Utomi of Ine Stars FC and Efe Ugiagbe of Unique  FC were given scholarship during  previous edition in 2018/2019  donated by Mr. Imafidon  and another ex-youth footballer, Nosa Odiase, based in Sweden.