Timothy Omobude 
The third edition of the Edo State Annual Secondary Schools Football Tournament organized by Edo People’s Forum came to a climax yesterday with the final games in both the male and female categories decided at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
At the end of hostilities in both finals, Edokpolo Grammar school triumphed over the hard fighting ST David College Evboneka by 3-2, while Idia College Benin City walloped St Angela’s Girls Grammar School in Attu 3-0.
Organizers of the tournament in a post-match interview said the games were designed to discover talents that abound in the state, stressing that the exercise offered the students the needed opportunity to express themselves and showcase their skills with possibilities of pursuing a career in football.
The Chairman of the tournament’s Working Committee Col. (rtd) Charles Asowata expressed the Forum’s gratitude to the Ministry of Education who made the children available for the competition and the Sports Commission who granted them access to the stadium to stage the competition.
Asowata disclosed that the 8 schools that participated were lodged in one of the best hotels in Benin City and were equally fed three times a day for the six days spent during the competition.
He also said that they were happy that in 2022/2023 they were able to produce some professionals among the participating schools, adding that 5 have moved to Edo Queens, 2 to Fortress Football Club while 2 persons are presently playing outside the country.
“The tournament is to build characters. How to accept loss and celebrate winning. It takes children off the streets. Our job is to encourage them to be better citizens and not to involve themselves in cultism because they are our future,” Asowata said.
He advised Edo youths to be focused in life and do what they can to better their lives. He also said they must be trustworthy in whatever they do.
On his part, a member of the forum Prince Jerry Obaseki said what they are doing is to give back to society. He said some of them did not have the opportunity to participate in this kind of competition.
He described Edo State as a cradle of sports when they were growing up. He said their role is to rejig sports at the grassroots to make the state regain its pride of place in sports in the country.
He disclosed that 160 students participated in this year’s competition and promised that it will continue.
Edokpolo Secondary School clinched the first position with a cash price of one million naira in the male category and the St David’s Secondary School Evboneka took second with cash price of five hundred thousand naira.
Same monetary rewards also went to the winners in the female category of the tournament.
