Bright Osayi-Samuel.

By Jethro Ibileke 

The maiden edition of Bright Osayi-Samuel male U-13 Football competition is set to kick off in Benin City, Edo State on 1 August.

The tournament is sponsored by Fenerberche and Super Eagles defender, Bright Osayi-Samuel and family, in conjunction with EDO Football Association (EFA).

The chairman of the EFA Local Organizing Committee (LOC), Mr Paul Ojoesekhoba, who conducted the draw of the tournament at the Media Centre of Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Friday, disclosed that a total of 39 U-13 teams will vie for honors in the tournament.

The teams are made up of 29 from Edo South and five each from Edo Central and Edo North respectively.

Ojoesekhoba who appealed to the coaches and club administrators to avoid falsifying their players, disclosed that eligible players are children born from January 1, 2012.

He, therefore, admonished coaches and club managers to ensure they abide by the rules and regulations of the competition, stressing that Edo FA has put mechanisms in place to computerize the bio-data of players as a way of eliminating age falsification.

Rules guiding the competition show that each team is allowed to register a maximum of 20 players at the start, and no player can play for two different teams in the tournament.

In the event of a draw in any of the knockout matches, penalty kicks would be used to determine the winner and there shall be no extra time, except determined otherwise by the LOC.

A standard time of 40 minutes per half and 15 minutes for half time (rest). The red card issued attracts a fine of ₦1,000

Winners of the competition will go home with ₦1 million, the first and second runners-up will receive ₦750,000 and ₦500,000 respectively, while the fourth place will go home with ₦250,000.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, of Edo FA, Fred Newton Erhunmeunsee, has vowed that his board will prioritize grassroots football and explore every opportunity to use the same for the benefit of Edo children in their pursuit of a professional football career.

He called on all well-meaning Edo sons and daughters both home and in the diaspora to emulate the sponsor of the U-13 football competition for Edo children.

Erhunmwunsee expressed confidence that with adequate sponsorship and support, Edo is capable of producing football stars like Bright Samuel Osayi, Victor Osimhen, Austin Okocha, and Lionel Messi, noting that the raw talents abound in the state.