Speaking during the FA Cup draws at the media centre of the Samuel ogbemudia stadium in Benin City on Monday, the Edo Football Association chairman Fred Newton Erhunwmunse, commended members of the Edo FA Board, football stakeholders in the state for the support given to him and his Board members since they came on board last year, He however paid tribute to his former vice chairman Kindness Ohiowele, who died February 11th this year in active service, describing him as a man who would always be remembered for his great contributions to the development of football in Edo State, a minute silence was observed in honour of the late Football administrator, who will buried March 15th 2024 in Ekpoma.
The Edo FA chairman however charged Players and managers of participating teams to ensure they play by the rules of the game, adding that the MOC, will not hesitate to sanction any club, players, or managers found wanting before, during and after the games. “I want to welcome everybody to this historic event, I call it historic because this is the first FA Cup competition under my leadership as the FA chairman, I am so elated standing before Football stakeholders in the State to declare this FA Cup draw event open. I must thank my board members, and the entire football family in the State for making this event a huge success.
Again, you know, I have been in this business for long, I have enjoyed working with my colleagues in the round leather game, our target is to return Edo State back to her premier position in the annals of Nigeria football. I have the believe that working with you all will take us there.” “You will agree with me that football has become a global big business and for us to get the best, we must be ready to make sacrifice and put in our very best into the association.
We are all gathered here for this year’s draw of the State FA Cup, we are believing God for a hitch free competition.” “You all know that organizing a competition of this nature is capital intensive, so I personally want to thank our various sponsors and partners for throwing their weights behind us. Fred Newtown Erhunmwunse stated. The Edo state FA cup competition that will begin on March 10th, 2024 at the various centres across the State, will climax on the 31st of March at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin City, with the men and women Final matches. A total of 31 teams registered for the oldest football competition in Edo state, , 27 male teams and 4 Women teams. Meanwhile Five teams were seeded in the mens category, they include National Federation cup holders Bendel Insurance FC, last year Edo FA cup runner up Bendel Insurance Feeders FC, and last year semi-finalists Rolly FC, and past winners BJ FC, and Ine Stars FC. while in the women category, Edo Queens FC and Fortress Ladies FC were also seeded.
The colourful and well attended ceremony saw the unveiling of jerseys for the semifinalists in the men and women category by the FA chairman Fred Newtown Erhunmwunse, immediate past Edo FA boss Dr Aghedo Moses, Optimum Afrivent representatives, and some invited sports personalities, just as the Edo FA boss commended Big Joe ventures for donating the jerseys for the men semi-finalists, and Optimus by Afrinvest for giving out jerseys for the women teams.
Ex Super Falcons players Otasowie Ogbomwan and Amenze Omoidiagbe conducted the draws for the women while former Nigeria internationals Baldwin Bazuaye MON and Lucky Agbonsevbafe MON perform the draws for the men of category. Edo FA media
