Ratels Benue State Football league keeps Benue agog as 63 teams jostle for honours 

Ratels Benue State Football league keeps Benue agog as 63 teams jostle for honours

BY BENEDICT NWACHUKWU, ABUJA

Food basket of the nation, Benue state has gone agog as 63 teams  including defending Champions,

Faith Hills fc of Makurdi are battling it out as the 3rd edition of Ratels Benue State Football League kicked off in the State.

The competition is  in progress in the three senatorial zones in the State comprising Benue Zone A Senatorial District, Zone B Senatorial District and Zone C Senatorial District.

In the official opening game decided at the MC Carthy Stadium Wadata Makurdi, Aeston football club thrashed Ghetto football club 3 :0 with the goals coming from Ayaga Vitalis and Ataka Moses who netted a brace through free kicks.

At the official opening that greeted the kick off, Presidsnt Ratels Sports Development Foundation Barrister Paul Edeh said his Foundation is determined to develop Sports at the grassroots.

According Barrister Edeh “Like it’s often said charity begins at home and  of course Benue is my home. This’s where I did my primary, secondary and tertiary education. Unfortunately I did not do my NYSC here because the law does not permit otherwise I would have. I think the state has given so much to me. I can not but give back to the society. I know sometimes when individuals embark on project such as this, there’s a colouration of politics attached to it but am glad this is the third edition of the Ratels Benue state football league in a row. Beyond the rhetorics, I think it’s an opportunity to give back to the people. We have watched good football here and from every indication there’s hope for our football because there are  numerous talents at the grassroots, that’s why I believe with just a little opportunity we can identify these talents and nurture them to stardom”.

Benue state Director of Sports, Comrade Philip Ter Nongo lauded the partnership between RSDF and Benue state FA in Football Development.

Comrade Nongo stressed “this partnership is yielding the desired dividends. Some of the players discovered are already playing for Lobi stars and some other clubs in the country. Here in Benue we are very happy with the giant strides recorded so far since the competition started three years ago. I will remain eternally grateful to RSDF for leading the revolution of football development in Benue state.”

The Benue state Director of Sports called on philantropists to emulate RSDF President, Barrister Paul Edeh in giving the youths the opportunity to showcase their God given talents in the business of round leather game.

Chairman Benue state Football Association Rt. Hon Margaret Icheen, appreciated the magnanimity of the sponsor, Barrister Edeh for pulling his resources towards the actualization of  the deliberate objectives of the Benue state football association to the growth and development of football, youth empowerment,  talents detection, employment generation, health, social mobilization, economic emancipation among others.

The opening game was graced by board members of the Benue state football association, state government officials and lovers of football in the state.