Ahead of the kick-off of the revived Governor’s Cup, Chairman of Benue State Football Association (BSFA), Chief Barr. Paul Edeh, has enjoined participating club sides to uphold discipline and remain focused on the essence of the competition.
Chief Barr. Paul who spoke during the draw ceremony for this year’s Governor’s Cup in Makurdi, said the essence of the tournament sponsored by the state government is to expose grassroots talents.
The Chairman then announced that the Governors Cup will be an avenue for total football development, adding, “outstanding coaches will be selected and sponsored for further training at the National Institution For Sports (NIS) and beyond.
“Also, just as the NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, had mentioned, young referees who are under 20 will also be encouraged to excel. Same development measures will apply to all other professionals involvement.”
Since the inception of the current BSFA leadership, Chief Edeh has sponsored many coaches to full course study at the National Institute for Sports (NIS) and designated CAF certification programmes.
Still talking about football development, Chief Edeh commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for his genuine interest geared towards empowering Benue indigenes and residents through sports.
While harping against foul play amidst reeling the numerous advantages associated with the Governors Cup, the BSFA Chairman said, “Indeed, when I had a conversation with the Honorable Commissioner, the desire of his Excellency is that every ward in this state should be seen to be actively involved and participate in the governor’s cup and that’s why the FA under my watch will not tolerate any local FA or any participant that fields or bring in players who are mercenaries.
“We have zero tolerance for mercenaries and those who are actively participating in football at advanced stage. This is because we want to give every child, particularly, Benue sons and daughters the opportunity to compete and be identified with at the state level.
“The significance of the governor’s cup in advancing grassroots football within Benue State is to the effect that first, it will see every local community participating in football.
“It will see us also celebrate football at grassroots. It will see that young boys in one street corner in Adikpo and other places looking forward to joining his darling Lobi Stars or even Arsenal or Chelsea as the case may be.
“Because those who are relegated to the background, the governor’s cup will seek to bring them forward and be identified at the state level first, the national and possibly, the international level.
“It will also help us to celebrate our diversity as a state . We have diverse culture within Benue State which we intend and hope to be able to showcase as to bring men and women from across the country to come and witness the best of Benue culture.
“The offshoot of the governor’s cup will lead us as a football association to begin the Benue State football League, wherein we are going to have the same thing we have at the national level – the NPFL, NNL and the NNO.
“Infact, he particularly said to me that he wants to see a situation where just like where the state government have Lobi Stars, the local government would also have their own clubs to compete at the state level.”
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Youth, Sports Development and Creativity, Rt. Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange, expressed confidence in the ability of BSFA to organise a hitch-free Governor’s Cup.
“I charge every one taking part in the competition to be honest in the course of participating. Every talent – Players, Referees, nutritionists, Media professionals and others should be encouraged to grow in their chosen careers,” he said.
He enjoined all the stakeholders including BSFA board and other congress members to team up with the FA Chairman to ensure the successful hosting of the competition and beyond.
The Commissioner also revealed that as from 2025, the modalities for participating in the Governor’s Cup will greatly improve.
The State Director of Sports Council, Dr. Philip Nongu, spoke on the need for the match officials to leave up to the expected standards of ensuring fair and just officiating throughout the tournament.
BSFA Secretary, Dr. Iorngulum Malu, while reeling out the criteria for the competition, emphasised that its essence was to expose grassroots footballers in a bid to reach the zenith of their career.
Benue State Governor’s CUP 2024 Fixtures
1.Group A- Gboko Centre
MatchDay 1
1.Okpokwu vs Oju
2.Ado vs Agatu
3.Ohimini vs Gwer West
MatchDay 2
4.Ado vs Ohimini
5.Agatu vs Oju
6.Okpokwu vs GwerWest
MatchDay 3
7.Agatu vs Ohimini
8.Okpokwu vs Ado
9.Oju vs Gwer West
MatchDay 4
10.Ohimini vs Oju
11.GwerWest vs Ado
12.Agatu vs Okpokwu
MatchDay 5
13.GwerWest vs Agatu
14.Oju vs Ado
15.Ohimini vs Okpokwu
2.Group B – Otukpo Centre
MatchDay1
16.Makurdi vs Ukum
17.Gboko vs Ogbadibo
18.Kwande vs Vandekiya
MatchDay 2
19.Gboko vs Kwande
20.Ogbadibo vs Ukum
21.Makurdi vs Vandekiya
MatchDay 3
22.Ogbadibo vs Kwande
23.Makurdi vs Gboko
24.Ukum vs Vandekiya
MatchDay 4
25.Kwande vs Ukum
26.Vandekiya vs Gboko
27.Ogbadibo vs Makurdi
MatchDay 5
28.VandekiyavsOgbadibo
29.UkumvsGboko
30.KwandevsMakurdi
3.GroupC-VandekiyaCentre
MatchDay 1
31.Katsina-AlavsKonshisha
32.Ushongo vs GwerEast
33.Otukpo vs Obi
MatchDay 2
34.Ushongo vs Otukpo
35.GwerEast vs Konshisha
36.Katsina-Ala vs Obi
MatchDay 3
37.Gwer East vs Otukpo
38.Katsina-Ala vs Ushongo
39.Konshisha vs Obi
MatchDay 4
40.Otukpo vs Konshisha
41.Obi vs Ushongo
42.GwerEast vs Katsina-Ala
MatchDay 5
43.Obi vs GwerEast
44.Konshisha vs Ushongo
45.Otukpo vs Katsina-Ala
4.Group D – Oju Centre
MatchDay 1
46.Buruku vs Apa
47.Guma vs Tarka
48.(Logo-Bye)
MatchDay 2
49.Tarka vs Buruku
50.Apa vs Logo
51.(Guma-Bye)
MatchDay 3
52.Logo vs Tarka
53.Buruku vs Guma
54.(Apa-Bye)
MatchDay 4
55.Guma vs Logo
56.Tarka vs Apa
57.(Buruku-Bye)
MatchDay 5
58.Apa vs Guma
59.Logo vs Buruku
60.(Tarka-Bye)