By Nelson Dafe on October 4, 2018

The much anticipated 4th edition of the Bet9ja football competition for grassroots teams in and outside Edo State will start on Monday, October 8, 2018.

The annual tournament which has now become a constant feature in Edo state football is put together by an indefatigable Benin City-based Super Agent of the well-known betting firm, Roland Inonoje.

The tournament which is keenly contested for by grassroots clubs searching for pride and the huge prize money on offer had suffered a little shift owing to the Edo State Football League which is currently going on in the state.

Most of the clubs billed to participate have been involved in the Edo state League and the organisers of the Bet9ja tournament deemed it fit, for scheduling reasons, to allow the State League to finish first before the Bet9ja hostilities will commence.

The Edo State League is wrapping up this weekend (at the time of writing this the State League was in the semi-final stage).

There will be 5 matches on match Day 1 (on Monday, October 8) with the biggest match coming up at 4pm between Ine Stars and Rockers FC at Isihor in the far west of Benin City.

Ine Stars were Edo State FA Cup champions in 2016 when they stunned Nationwide League division 1 side Dynamite Force by beating them 3-0 in the final.

Ine Stars have also won a couple of Edo State League titles and are one if the most decorated youth teams in Edo State in terms of titles won.

Rockers FC are a very formidable youth club which has churned out several players who have won lots of youth competitions in Edo State and nationally.

In match Day two on Tuesday, October 9, the biggest fixture is the Group D fixture between 2016 Edo State League champions Benin Warriors FC and Yak Sports FC who are said to be floated by ex-Super Eagles star striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni.

Yak Sports have steadily grown in status, winning a number of local football tournaments and they have been in fine form in the ongoing Edo State League where they are (at the time of writing) in the semi-finals of the competition after having recorded a number of big wins in the group stage of the league.

For Benin Warriors, they would like to conquer the spirits of their state League win in 2016 when they surprised many by winning the title in their debut season of participating.

Benin Warriors have a number of exciting young talents who are growing in profile and this competition represents another opportunity for the players to garner more experience.

The Bet9ja competition (which is in affiliation with the Edo state FA) has grown in status over the years because of the large number of quality teams participating and the proper management of the tournament by its organisers.

The head of the Local Organizing Committee and Bet9ja Super Agent Roland Inonoje told Daily Sports that this year’s edition which would take place in Benin City (as usual) would look to be an improvement on the high standard of the competition in the previous editions.

“We are expecting teams from near and far, in and out of Edo State to participate in the Bet9ja competition this year and we promise to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that teams get the right platform to express their talents and that fans get the opportunity of watching the future stars of the country,” Inonoje stated.

Inonoje has been widely applauded by fans and participating clubs for his tireless efforts in organising the competition which has seen clubs going home with mouth-watering cash prizes over the years.

As well, the tournament has always been well organised with no serious allegations of bad officiating or violence which sometimes mar football tournaments for grassroots clubs.

PRO of Bet9ja in Edo State, Kennedy Ugbodaga, informed Daily Sports that the draws for the competition would be made very soon.

“Football scouts and agents from Europe are expected to be in Benin City to watch the tournament as they have always done. Some players who featured in this tournament are playing good professional football now,” Ugbodaga stated.

University of Benin (UNIBEN) won the last edition of the Bet9naija football tournament in front of a mammoth crowd at the Uniben Sports Complex last year.

•Photo shows players of Benin Warriors FC warming up before a match

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 4, 2018

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