Betsy Obaseki Football Tournament :  Shaibu underlines campaign against drug abuse, trafficking

The second edition of the yearly Betsy Obaseki Football Tournament has been themed to drive the Edo State government’s campaign against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

This much was said yesterday by the State’s Deputy Governor who doubles as the  Vice-Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament (BOWFT) while briefing journalists at the  Government House on the preparedness  for the second edition of the tournament.

He said the tournament which will commence on the 7^th  of September 2022, will have 12 teams participating, with 10 coming from the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), while the other best two Edo State women’s team  will join the competition, adding: “The opportunity given to the teams from the state is to expose our young girls and catch them young.”

“At the final of the competition on the 17^th of September 2022, first ladies from the 36 states of the federation will attend the game at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.”

He continued: “We don’t discriminate in Edo State as this is the only state where our female and male football teams earn the same salaries. We are building up the girl-child and giving them support to thrive in all they do. Look at the performance of our female team in the Commonwealth Games, winning 12 gold medals while the men won none. Females need to be encouraged to do better.

“Women’s  football has come to stay in Edo State as we appreciate our First Lady, Betsy Obaseki for making the competition an annual event and a pre-season tournament to prepare our girls.

“We are using this year’s tournament to create publicity and awareness against drug abuse and trafficking,” he said.

Shaibu further explained there would be matches  across  the newly- built 20 mini-stadium across  the state as well as the University of Benin Sports Complex and the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

The deputy governor added, “We already took steps of institutionalizing this event as it is private sector-driven. We have instituted a board of trustees to institutionalize the tournament.”