Secondary Schools in Edo State have intensified preparation ahead of the annual Gregory Imafidon Foundation Gold cup Football tournament for Secondary School Boys in the state.
The 5th in the series of the prestigious Football carnival, will hold in Benin city from May 21st – 31st 2023, with over twenty Secondary Schools in the state participating.
The event tagged “Catch Them Young, Kick Against Crime” which has become another milestone in the annals of football development in the state, is now rated one of the best amongst schools Football tournaments in Edo state, given the reward for the various winners at the end of the event by the tournament sponsor Mr Gregory Imafidon, a United States of America based Family, Nurse Practitioner and a former Footballer.
According to the CEO of Mr Gregory Imafidon Foundation, and tournament sponsor, the aim of the tournament is to engage the youths meaningfully, help reduce the rate of crime among them, support and empower them to fulfill their dreams, while calling on everyone, the Government to support the tournament.
“I am not doing this for political reasons, but for the love I have for the game and the youths of our great state and country, Nigeria”.
“The tournament is aimed at empowering the youths in our schools, take them off social vices, engage them meaningfully to help reduce the rate of crime among them”, Imafidon posited.
Gregory Imafidon also used the opportunity to call on Edo state government, traditional institutions in the state, Edo unions and Associations both home and abroad and well meaning Nigerians to support the annual tournament, while requesting for anyone willing to contribute towards the event to please reach out to gregoryimafidonfoundation@yahoo.com.
According to the the organisers, winners will get medals, cash prizes, souvenirs, individual awards gifts amongst others.
Mr Gregory Imafidon however commended Edo state Government for the massive investment in sports development, creating the enabling environment for sports to thrive in the state, and that his foundation is willing to partner and complement Government efforts.
He tasked the organisers to do a good job and ensure that only true students of the participating schools are allowed to take part in the week long soccer tournament.
Government Science Technology college, Benin city are the defending champion of the Gregory imafidon Foundation Gold cup tournament for Secondary Schools in Edo State.
Meanwhile, the organisers of the tournament have promised to put together a hitch free event