By Patience Ogbo/
The 3rd edition of the Gregory Imafidon Foundation football tournament is set to kick off in Benin City, Edo State.
The highly-rated under-15 boys’ soccer tournament tagged “Catch Them Young, Kick against Crime” is slated for January 3 – 11, 2020.
The tournament will attract teams from Edo, Delta, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Anambra, Imo, and Abia states.
Speaking on the event, Mr Imafidon said, “Donations can be made to the Foundation’s account 0040494917 – Unity Bank as effort is being made to get comfortable accommodation and transportation for the visiting teams from other states of the federation.
I am using this opportunity to call on the Edo State government, traditional institution, great people of Edo State, Edo Unions and Associations, both home and abroad, well-meaning Nigerians, and other youth sports lovers to support this tournament. The aim is to take the youths off the street and engage them meaningfully, to help reduce the rate of crime especially in Edo State.”
Mr. Imafidon added that all hands must be on deck to stop youths from crime.
According to the organizers, the winner of the tournament will go home with a gold cup while scholarship, gifts and monetary prizes will be given to outstanding teams and players.
Other attractions include New Jerseys for semi-finalists.
Medals will be given to Gold, Silver and Bronze winning teams. Cash prizes and gifts for the best player of the tournament, best-behaved team, best defender, best midfielder, highest goal scorer, and the best goalkeeper.
He said, “We are still accepting donations and pledges to ensure a successful tournament so that we can make the visiting and participating states comfortable in our bid to contribute our quota to help reduce the crime rate in Edo State.
“We are requesting sponsors from groups and individuals who are willing to help and positively touch the lives of our youth through empowerment and scholarship donation to help take the youths off the street. 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 crime-free state by contributing towards the success of this move. We cannot afford to lose any more youths to crime. The lives of our youths are valuable.”
Mr Imafidon also expressed his appreciation to philanthropists and other members of the public for their support toward the success of previous editions.
His words: “Special thanks to Mr. Isaac Uzamere aka Otata 1, Denmark; Ms. Michelle Green, USA; Mr. Andrew Osaghae, Ireland; Mr. Dave Ogbomo, Belgium; Mr. Gaskin Irabor, Italy/Britain; Mr Taiwo Omo-Iyamu, USA; Ms. Kathleen Imafidon Asemota, Nigeria, Mr. John Imafidon, Spain, Mr. Osas Imafidon, Austria, Mr. & Mrs. Frank Igbinigie, Austria, Eng. Andy Agbondiafo, Britain, Mr. Festus Ekhator, Germany, Mr. Nosa Odiase, Sweden, Mr. Michael Ekhator, USA, Rtd. SP Mr. Saturday Okao, Patience Ogbo, the journalist, Lagos, EBS TV sports, Edo State, Crime World online team, Lagos, NewsmakerNG online, Telegraph Newspaper, The Sun Newspaper, Daily Times Newspaper, Vanguard Newspaper, Lagos, The Nigerian Observer Newspaper and others who see the need to join this building train towards making Edo State a better place.
“Your contributions towards the first and second edition are very much appreciated. I invite you all to this great event come January 3 – 11 let us support these vulnerable youths and reduce the rate of crime in Edo State.”
Two outstanding players, Emeka Utomi of Ine Stars FC and Efe Ugiagbe of Unique FC, were given scholarship during the last edition in 2018/2019, donated by the founder, Gregory Imafidon, an Edo State-born ex-youth footballer and a Family Nurse Practitioner based in Dallas, Texas, USA with another ex-youth footballer, Nosa Odiase, based in Sweden.
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