By Lucky Isibor
Thirty-nine teams are vying for honours in the maiden edition of Bright Osayi-Samuel U-13 Football competition which will kick off in Benin City on August 1st.
The tournament, sponsored by the family of Fenerberche and Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel, held its draw Friday, 26 July at the Media Centre, Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium where 26 teams from Edo South were drawn against each other for a place in the Super 8.
Speaking during the draw of the the tournament which is powered by the Edo State Football Association (Edo FA), the chairman of Edo FA, Fred Newton admonished coaches and club managers to ensure they abide by the rules and regulations of the competition, stressing that defaulters will be penalised in accordance with the extant rules.
Newton who also appealed to the coaches and club administrators to avoid age falsification for their players, pointed out that the Edo FA is puting mechanisms in place to computerise the bio-data of players as a way of eliminating age falsification.
Three teams ( Royal Force FC, Aidia Sports Club and Delights FC) from the twenty-nine registered teams in Edo South Senatorial District are drawn bye and will join the remaining 13 teams from the 26 teams in the playoff stage at the round of 16 till the last four.
The last four teams in Edo South will join up with two teams each from Edo North Senatorial District and Edo Central Senatorial District for the Super 8 where the eventual winners will emerge.
Players born from January 1st, 2012 are eligible for the competition as stipulated by the laws of the competition.
The winners of the competition will cart home a whooping amount of One million naira (1, 000,000), the first runner up team will go home with Seven hundred and fifty thousand naira (750, 000), the third-placed team with five hundred thousand naira (500, 000), while the fourth-placed team with 250, 000 naira respectively.
The full draws show that
Elites FC will slug it out with Shooting Arrows, Edo Young Stars will confront Shavik FC and Bright Ways will face Dynamic Star.
Others are Feedom FC vs Royal FC
Baldwin Bazuaye Football Academy vs Edo Dynamo FC, Fubalive vs Crecent Sports, Trades Fair FC vs Rockers FC,
Ineh Stars vs Efe Uroh City, Paulson Football Academy vs Sporting Blazers and Angels FC vs Ogbomo FC.
Others are Magnifico Sporting Football Academy vs Restoration Prayer FC,
Ugbowo Bombers vs Santos FC and
Serving The Great FC vs MFM FC