By Daily Sports on March 7, 2019

Soccer betting company Bet9ja is one organisation that is continuously becoming a mainstay for grassroots football development. In Benin City, Edo State, in particular, Bet9ja's presence in youth football has been felt positively over the past few years courtesy of the serious dedication to sports growth shown by the company's Benin City Super Agent Roland Inonoje.

The 5th edition of Bet9ja's Super Agents Cup football competition for grassroots clubs comes up later this month (March) and there are two key differences from the previous editions which make this particular edition promising of more excitements.

One, the prize money at stake for the champions has been increased to a whopping 1m naira (a more than 50% increase from what was offered in the previous editions to winners.)

Secondly, the competition this year will not only hold in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, but instead group matches will take place in the different other towns of the steady, from North to the southern parts.

Public relations officer of Benin zone of Bet9ja Kennedy Ugbodaga says the tournament is ripe enough for the improvements being made by the organisers for this year’s tournament.

“We want to add value to football competition sponsorship in Nigeria. Bet9ja is determined to see that more towns in Edo State have the excitement of watching the finest grassroots clubs and very talented players slug it out in a big competition. As well, we want teams to enjoy more the pleasure of winning the 'Royal Rumble' of this competition by upping the prize money at stake,” Ugbodaga said.

Meanwhile, some top grassroots clubs in and outside of Edo State have confirmed their willingness to participate in the Bet9ja super Cup. This includes BJ Foundation FC of Benin City who have produced such stars for Nigerian national teams as Victor Moses, Elderson Echiejile, Mikel Agu and Isaac Success.

The competition has also attracted sponsors including Coca Cola, S&T Barrack of the Nigerian army, and 7up bottling company.

Ugbodaga adds that the draws for the competition would be made very soon and that top football agents are set to be a part of the tournament with the aim of selecting the best players to manage.

“Football scouts and agents from Europe will 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 and we expect this year’s edition will help some more grassroots players launch their professional careers,” Ugbodaga stated.

Last year, the 4tj edition of the Bet9ja Super Agents cup was won by Rockers FC, an exciting team with a slew of young players in its fold. They beat BJ Foundation on penalty shootout.

Rockers have already had some of the players who featured in last year's edition of the Bet9ja tournament playing their professional football in Europe now and the club is expected to participate and defend its crown this year.

Edo FA Cup forms out

Preparations for the 2019 AITEO FA cup Competition across the country is officially on. In Edo state, professional as well as youth clubs have been informed that the Edo State FA cup registration forms are out for collection.

Also,the Edo state league forms for teams interested in participating in the state's annual youth league have been put out for sales by the Edo FA.

A statement from the media department of the Edo FA informs that the registration fee for the FA cup is 50,000 naira, while that of the State League is also fixed at 50,000 naira.

Perhaps a gray area in the press release relates to an additional sum of 10,000 naira which clubs have been directed to pay as 'Affiliation' fee in order to participate in any of these competitions.

Club owners are still waiting for clarification on this,as some argue that a club is already affiliated to the FA by virtue of registering for NFF-organized tournaments.

However, one club owner sought to shed light on the issue of the 'affiliation fees'.

"I think, Edo FA needs a kudo for the reductions of price for affiliation. This is the beginning of players security for grassroots team. I advice teams to go and get the affiliation because it's an opportunity to secure your players. You can get afflicted without you playing state league or  Aiteo cup."

However, affiliating with the FA and documenting the names and signatures of players with the football association can, at best, show show that a particular player played for a club at a particular time (and thus entitle the club to a chunk of the transfer proceeds if the player signs a professional contract), but is not enough to stop a player from leaving the club because FIFA laws regard grassroots players as un-contracted players who can effectively leave their youth clubs at any time to another grassroots club or professional side.

Here is the full press release by the Edo FA on the FA cup and State League:

PRESS RELEASE

Edo state football Association (EFA) has commenced the sales of registration forms for teams wishing to take Part in the state football League and Aiteo cup competition for 2018/2019 football season.

Teams are advised to visit the Edo state football Association secretariat at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium between the hours of 8am and 4pm from Monday’s to Friday's for registration.

For Aiteo cup registration (male and female) teams are to Pay Fifty thousand naira (50.000.00) same amount is also the fee for the state football League.

Be informed that all teams are also to Pay an annual affiliation fee of Ten thousand naira (10,000.00) during registration for any of the tournament.

Registration which has since started will end on March 20th 2019, but attract a fine for late registration which is not later than March 29th 2019.”

Source Daily Sports

Posted March 7, 2019

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