The Governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia has reiterated the resolve of his administration, to develop sports in Benue State.
Governor Alia made this known Sunday, while declaring the 2024 Governor Cup competition opened, at the JS Tarka Stadium, Gboko. He said, “I want to assure you that I am committed to reviving not just football but the entire sports, and to fix the infrastructure because my intention is to cure social vices and also allow us have the hosting rights to both national and international competitions”.
The Governor who was represented at the occasion by the Commissioner of Youth, Sports and Creativity, Hon Terkimbi IKyange averred that, “I feel so happy and fulfilled to see a new dawn in sports”. So much is going to happen and we are going to harness a lot of talents in Benue State, market them at both nationally and internationally. This will bring back a lot of economic turnaround and jobs will be created”.
Rev Fr Alia expressed appreciation to the Local Government Council Chairmen for collectively agreeing to support the activities of the Governor Cup. He remarked that, “you have indeed shown that you all have joined hands with me to make Benue State a better place”.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Creativity, the Commissioner who commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for reviving the Governor Cup competition in the state, explained that, “you can see that the competition has returned into play and the zeal and enthusiasm shown by the youths show that Benue will witness a lot of good football. I want to express my profound appreciation to him for doing this”.
Hon IKyange while praising the BSFA for their initiatives of the Governor Cup, thanked all the stakeholders who made the event possible. He stressed that, “we will need more of your support because this is just the beginning”.
He charged the players to play the game with the mindset that they were playing not to kill but as brothers with the spirit of sportsmanship. Moreso, “the talents that we are going to pick from this tourney to promote and export, will bring back support for the development of sports”.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Benue State Football Association BSFA, Barr Paul Edeh who thanked Governor Hyacinth Alia for his commitment to the growth and development of sports at all levels which is a reason they had fulfilled their earlier promise of ensuring that the Governor Cup was revived in the state, reminded that, “when we came on board we made a commitment to the people of Benue State that we will ensure that the competition is revived and I am happy because that promise has been fulfilled all because of the astute leadership and commitment of Governor Hyacinth Alia”.
He commended the Governor for his wisdom and foresight which was the reason Hon Terkimbi IKyange was made a commissioner of Youth, Sports and Creativity. He disclosed that, “today is also a day of joy to me because of the commissioner that the Governor has given us in sports. While in other states, the FA’s are battling with their sports commissioners on who is in charge of football, ours is different because he has the interest in sports and as a front burner, he fought all odds to ensure that the governor revives the Governor Cup competition in the state”.
He commended the Local Government Council Chairmen for their commitment and fighting hard to ensure that funding for the tourney was provided.
The BSFA Chairman explained that, “we have two categories of the Governor Cup (male and female), being the first time in the history of football in Nigeria that this is happening. The prize money is ₦10.000.000 to each of the categories and we will ensure that the finest that is associated with football is also associated with the Governor Cup”.
“No one should complain about poor officiating because that is why we have referee assessors and any of the referees that is found wanting shall be disciplined accordingly”.
“The Governor Cup will culminate into the Benue State Premier, Championship and Grassroots/Amateur Leagues and their boards shall be the same as that of the national. This is to encourage the council chairmen to have teams”.
Highlights at the event included presentation of sports equipment to participating teams and a march pass for all the teams in the competition.
