The Cross River State Football Association (CRSFA), on Wednesday flagged off her pre-season tournament matches for the 2022 season in Calabar, after 20 years.
Briefing Tribune Sports at the U.J Esuene Sports Stadium in Calabar, the Vice Chairman of the State Football Association, Greg Abang, said it had been over twenty years since such a showpiece was staged by the association, adding that the event would put the teams in top shape ahead of the new season.
“Football association being the organisers and custodians of football, and coordinators of all the clubs in the state are showcasing a pre-season tournament for the first time in over twenty years now. The event which is meant to prepare teams for the upcoming campaign is being organised using the rules and regulations of the game.
“The association is putting everything in place to ensure that it’s not just a training, but a competitive event to help the teams get ready for the new season.
Greg called for a back-to-back follow up to avoid errors saying “We urge them to follow up, so they won’t make mistakes when the league starts,” Greg said.
Also speaking, Team Manager, Diamond Stars, Ifari Sunday, said that the pre-season games were to prepare the teams for the season fully.
He added that the tournament would feature players from the Premier League, NNL National league 1, trying to test their players, ahead of the season.