Football enthusiasts in Otukpo metropolis, have commended the state governor, Rev Father Hyacinth Alia, for reviving the Governor’s Cup Competition in Benue State after many years of abandonment.
Interacting with The Voice on Thursday in Otukpo, a football lover and founder Nwosu United Football Club, Otukpo, Chief Francis Nwosu stated that by doing so, the governor has opened the window to the development of football at the grass roots in Benue State once again.
He added that, the revival of the Governor’s Cup Competition apart from developing and fishing out hidden football talents in the state, would take the youths off the streets and off crimes.
The football lover, urged youths in the state to take the competition seriously to justify the governor’s huge investment in the game, adding that many of them would find their destinies in the tourney.
“I commend Governor Hyacinth Alia, for reviving the Governor’s Cup tournament in the state. This and the attention he is giving to the state football outfit, Lobi Stars FC and the remodeling of the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi to international standard, shows that he is a sports loving governor who means well for his people
With the revival of the Governor’s Cup Competition, grass roots footballing would be boosted, hidden talents discovered and crimes will be reduced”, the Igbo leader explained.
Nwosu, who is the leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Igbo Forum in Benue South Senatorial district, called on local government chairmen in the state to institute similar football competition in their various council areas as part of their contributions to the promotion of the round leather game in Benue. encouraged other individuals and organizations to contribute their quotas, saying the government cannot do it alone.
On the rise and fall of many football clubs in the state, the football commentator, attributed it to lack of patronage and sponsorship by relevant authorities, stressing that football business is too huge to be left on the shoulders of an individual to fund.
On his part, a football fan, George Eligege, noted that the governor is bent on returning Benue to its past glorious sports era, stressing that revival of the governor’s cup was a positive development.
” I commend Governor Alia, for restoring the hitherto governor’s cup tournament. This tournament apart from unifying the youth, will bring out hidden football talents and also provide jobs for many of our idle young men and women” he explained.
Coach Eligege, who was the founder of “He Reigns FC” of Otukpo, but now defunct, asked the government to assist club owners in the state, stressing that most football outfits in the state including his, folded up due to lack of sponsorship.
Another football lover, Samuel Egwurube, praised the ongoing governor’s cup tourney, maintaining that Governor Alia is out to revive Benue from all fronts and urged Benue citizens to support his efforts in sports promotion.
A retired female footballer, Happiness Okoye, noted that the restoration of the governor’s cup tournament by Governor Alia calls for celebration among football lovers, especially youths
Happiness, who recalled her football heydays with nostalgia blamed past administrations in the state for allowing the governor’s cup tournament to go into comatose, before its revival by the state government.
Others who spoke including, Dr Umar Ajape, A lhaji Garba Geryma and Madam Janet Abah, all hailed Governor Hyacinth Alia, for restoring the defunct Benue Governor’s cup completion in the state.
