Sports

8,000 Athletes for Edo 2020 Festival- Minister

Published

4 years ago

March 19, 2021

The much postponed Edo National Sports Festival will go ahead as planned from April 2nd- 14th with 8,000 athletes taking part, Minister of Youth and Sports Development Chief Sunday Dare has assured.

Speaking in Benin on Friday after undergoing a tour of facilities and a meeting with Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, Chief Dare Said” On April 2nd, 2021, the camp for the Edo Festival would be opened, on April 6th the official opening of the Festival by Mr. President would take place. But beyond that, we are also working closely with the PTF, NCDC, and others to ensure that the necessary support we need in terms of vaccination of athletes, test kits will be available. We are also pruning down the number of athletes that would be participating from 14,000 to 8,000. I must thank the Governor and his Deputy Governor for taking the lead on this”

On accommodation of athletes, he said” We have been able to get the University of Benin to host our athletes. There is still some work to be done here which may not be on the radar, but everything is on track I can tell you with certainty that the Edo National Sports Festival will hold. After meeting with the Governor, His Excellence Godwin Obaseki, his Deputy Comrade Philip Shuaibu, we are reassured that we are on track to host a successful National Sports Festival. All obstacles have been cleared, we are ready for a great festival. The event is coming at the most auspicious time when we are preparing for the Olympics. This is our local Olympics and we shall make the most of it. The President has given his nod for the Festival to take place, there’s no going back”

The Festival billed for last year was postponed due to the outbreak of Covid-19.

The new February date was also moved due to paucity of funds.

Chief Dare had to make a special presentation to the President for funds to support Edo state after the Governor declared that the state lacked the resources to host the Festival.

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Sports

Dr. John Metchie Football Tournament To Commence 26th December In Anambra-East Local Government Area

Published

6 hours ago

December 18, 2024

The Gleamer

All is now set for the kickoff of Dr. John Metchie Football Tournament 2024 as 12 teams from the communities in Anambra-East clash for the trophy .

The opening ceremony which will take place at Our Lady Field in Otuocha on 26th December will play host to all football lovers who will relish the game with gusto and enthusiasm while extending hands of friendships in the convivial atmosphere.

The chief sponsor of the football competition Chief Amb. Dr. John Metchie who spoke to HEADLINE NEWS about the tournament, said it is part of his human capital development initiative. He said that the grassroots football games would be a veritable platform for the discovery of raw talents that would be groomed for professional football in the near future.

Metchie who is also the President-General of Umueri community and equally holds the chieftaincy title of Ife-Omambala because of his commitments to community development and human capital development, noted that it is a unity football tournament intended to add flavour to the festive season as well as help to harness raw talents.

He said all the communities in Anambra-East Local Government Area viz Aguleri, Umueri, Enugwu-Otu, Eziagulu-Otu, Mkpunando, Enugwu-Aguleri, Nsugbe, Nando, Ikem-Nando, Umuoba-Anam and Igbariam will participate in the football competition including John Metchie FC and there would be prizes for the first, second and third positions respectively.

While the kickoff ceremony holds on 26th December at Our Lady Field Otuocha, the closing ceremony for the Dr. John Metchie Football Tournament is scheduled to place on 2nd January 2025.

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