Atleast 10 football Club (FC) teams comprising military and paramilitary borganizations in Edo State are set to lock horns in the Second Edition of the Kada Unity Cup 2025 sponsored by a former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, the Edo FA has disclosed.
Briefing newsmen in Benin ahead of the tournament, Chairman Edo State Football Association (Edo FA), Fred Newton Erhunmwunse, who represented Chief Lucky Igbinedion said the annual event is aimed at fostering unity among military and paramilitary organizations in Edo State.
He added that the former governor, Lucky Igbinedion, in his desire to promote sports development as a sports enthusiast, has graciously put together the tournament to celebrate the Edo FA and unify the football teams of military and paramilitary organizations in the state.
The Chairman Edo State Football Association (Edo FA), who hailed the unwavering dedication and support the former governor of Edo State, Igbinedion has continued to display in the sports sector, said the tournament will feature 10 football teams in Benin city.
He said that the participating football clubs drawn from the military and paramilitary organizations are, the Nigerian Police FC , Department of State Security (DSS) FC,Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) FC, Fire Service FC and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) FC.
Others are Nigerian Army FC,
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) FC, Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC) FC, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) FC, and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) FC.
Speaking at the unveiling of the football teams for the Kada Unity Cup competition, Managing Director, Kada Plaza, Trevor Pillay said the 2nd Edition of KADA Unity Cup 2024 competition is to encourage sportsmanship and unity among the participating teams.
On his part , Mr. Iguma Odion, representing the Nigerian Police FC team, commended the organizers and former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, for the initiative.
Team Nigerian Army FC represented by Lt. Emmanuel Nasiru of Four Bridage Nigerian Army Benin expressed satisfaction with the organizers for putting together the tournament, just as he called for the sustainability of the football competition aimed at fostering unity among the military and paramilitary personnel in the state.
Earlier, the chairman of the Edo State Football Association (Edo FA) Fred Newton Erhunmwunse said the week-long competition is to kick start on February 7th and climax on February 14th .
He expressed appreciation to the organizers and former governor Igbinedion for promoting sports development in the state and for his passion for football and other sporting events.
The second edition of the Kada Unity Cup 2025 is proudly powered and supported by Independent Radio and Television (ITV/RADIO), Igbinedion University Okada (IUO), Kada Plaza and Cinema, OTI Hotel, Fast Micro and Eliots Sportsbar.