MAMA EBO PEPPER RICE VETERANS FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT FOR FINAL.
The veteran football tournament that was established to celebrate the retired footballers as well as to make them keep fit even in retirement had been turned to another league of tournament. This football tournament was founded in 2019 in Edo state Nigeria and it is comprising of six football teams which are; Edo All-stars; Uphill Veterans; Uwa All-stars; Cathedral FC; Esan star; Zenith FC
Edo state is known for home of football and other sports during amalgamation of Benin and Delta called BENDEL. It was gathered that the under seventeen league competition was hijacked by Sweden from Edo state, then sold to FIFA. This newly veteran tournament by Edo State could also be bought by FIFA. Edo State is globally seen as sport trailblazer where different kinds of tournament were created, also produced National and global sport legends like Austin Eguavon, Mary Oyali, Osaze Odemwingie few to be mentioned.
Mr Paul Ojeiskhoba, who is the secretary of Main Organizing Committee (MOC) of this tournament and a board member of Edo state football association in charge of the technical department says it will not be a new thing if FIFA comes to steal the idea of veteran tournament to the global standard where the international sport retirees come back to the field to play.
Mama Ebo Pepper Rice Veteran football tournament set for the final of it second edition, the quarter final matches were so entertaining while the winners met at the semi-final. The Veteran tournament which stated that the players must be forty-five years and above or at least 40 years, Paul Ojeishkhoba who also encouraged the players that whenever any team lost match, they should take it like as a fate and as the spirit of sportsmanship.
At the Semi-final level, Uphill veterans play against Edo All Stars with (1-0) won by Edo All Stars set to meet Esan All Stars at the final level which won Uwa All Stars with same (1-0) point.
However, the Final match between the Edo All-stars and Esan All-Stars is scheduled to be played on Sunday 23rd May, 2021 by 3pm while the third-place match would be played by 1pm on the same day.
The two giant teams set to meet for final at the University of Benin football field in Ekehuan-Benin City on Sunday have started preparing alongside the organization committees. The MOC Chairman, SP Okao rtd says he has sworn to be fair and transparent so that the sponsors would be able to sponsor next time, he also made a comment about the judgement of the referee, that they were not bias in all kind. The major objective of this tournament is to gather the retired footballers from different clubs in other to keep fit, these veterans are matured as they play on the football field, so there should not be any kind of provocative issues
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