Teams from across the 23 local government areas in Benue State will participate in the Governor’s Cup slated to kick off on October 1, 2024.
The competition, which is staging a comeback after an eight-year hiatus, will commence with a zonal conference where top 10 teams will finally battle for N20 million prize money at stake. While the champions will smile home with N10 million, the first and the second runners-up will get N6 million and N4 million respectively.
Speaking during a world press in Makurdi, the state capital, the Commissioner for Youth, Sports Development and Creativity, Terkimbi Ikyange, said Governor Hyacinth Alia’s resolve to harness and empower talented individuals especially the youth in the state cannot be overemphasised.
Represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr John Akume, the Commissioner said the Governor believes in talent discovery and is deeply committed to see that youths in the state are empowered and engaged positively.
“Benue State Government ably led by Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia is very committed in human capital development and he has always assured that he will stop at nothing in ensuring that the people of the state especially youth are well empowered.
“And the best form of empowerment is talent discovery and exposure. This is major reason he has graciously approved the return of Governor’s Cup. And I want to use this opportunity to commend the Benue State Football Association (BSFA) led by Chief Barr. Paul Edeh for his proactiveness at all times.
“We currently have a BSFA Chairman who is standing very tall and is results-oriented. I’m very, very committed with his team. We see that development of football in our state is witnessing accelerated pace,” the Commissioner said.
The BSFA chairman, Edeh, while describing the revival of the Governor’s Cup as a significant moment in the sporting history of Benue State said it points to renewed commitment to development of grassroots football in the state by the Governor.
“Its (Governor’s Cup) revival symbolises a renewed commitment to the development of grassroots football, which serves as a crucial platform for nurturing young talent and uniting our communities through the beautiful game.
“Today marks not just the return of a tournament, but the revival of a dream. A dream that football can unite, inspire, and transform our dear State. Through the Governor’s Cup, His Excellency has elected to reignite the flames of hope for our youth, bringing together the passion of our people, and empowering the next generation of champions.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank His Excellency, Rev Fr Dr Hyacinth Iormen Alia, the Governor of Benue State, who has demonstrated unwavering dedication to the growth of sports as one of his cardinal agenda. His vision of using sports as a tool for youth empowerment, community engagement, and societal growth is truly commendable. The Governor’s Cup is a testament to the passion and belief of His Excellency in the power of sports to inspire and transform lives.
“We are excited to announce that registration for each team is set at ₦500,000, ensuring that every local government has an opportunity to participate. The tournament will officially kick off on 1st October 2024, beginning with the Zonal Conference, and will culminate in the Super 10, where the finest teams will battle it out for glory.
“In addition to the pride and honor of winning, the prize monies for this tournament are as follows: ₦10 million for the champion, ₦6 million for the first runner-up and ₦4 million for the second runner-up. There will also be many consolation prizes to reward outstanding performances throughout the tournament.
“The benefits of this tournament are immense. First and foremost, it will foster peace and unity among our communities, bringing people together from all corners of the state in the spirit of healthy competition. Secondly, it will serve as a platform for the discovery and nurturing of young football talents, many of whom may go on to represent our state and country on bigger stages. Lastly, the tournament will stimulate local economies, as it attracts football fans, vendors, and tourists to our towns and cities,” Edeh said.
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