BY ELIJAH UGANI – OBUDU
A former International Football Icon and former Super Eagle Coach, Mr. Sampson Siasia has stated that his coming to Obudu is to enable him and his team to identify talents in young people and assist them gets to the next level of football.
Coach Saisia made known today, September 4th, 2020 at the Obudu Township stadium during the finals of the 7th edition of Comrade Odey Adamade Football tournament.
In his words “We have to come here today because this is the finals, in events like this, we identify young talents and assist them gets to the next level. That goalkeeper is extremely good.
“I want to thank Comr. Adamade who made it possible for us to be here. Worthy of note is the fact that all of you have come out massively to be part of this event. We hope to come back here.
“Football is way of bringing people together and I can see smiles on your faces, to the Chiefs who have waited patiently from the beginning of the match to now, I must commend them, thank you very much for coming.
“The reception we have right from when we came till now, is being something else, thank you all for your hospitality”
A member of Coach Siasia’s technical crew, Mr. Elvis Abu, commended the efforts of the organizer of the tournament and posited that the trip was worthwhile.
Mr. Abu promised to support the efforts made by Barr. Adamade to organize the tournament and pledged his commitment to the organization of the eight edition of the tournament with specific attention to areas that need to improved upon.
On his part, the organizer of the tournament, Barr. Odey Adamade, was visibly elated to have Coach Sampson honor his invitation to grace the finals of his tournament with the view to identify young and upcoming talents to assist them get to the next level.
Adamade stated that “my joy is to see any of these youth wear Arsenal, Liver Pool, Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid or any club jersey as a player in that team, at least the player must remember that this tournament gave him the platform and spring board to get to the zenith of his career.
“It might interest you to note that some people spent a lot to get Coach Siasia do the assignment he has come here to do. But it might interest you to know that I didn’t spend anything for him to come here. I only went to him and requested him to come, and he obliged. I’m indeed honor to have him here and I want to say that as has said some persons have been identified, I will discuss the logistics that is required to get them to the national team and ensure that I provide same”
Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers council, the Chairman of Urban Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Highness Utsu Ezekiel thanked Coach Sampson Siasia for finding time to grace the occasion despites his very tight schedules, and prayed for the enabling opportunities to get some of the youths who have been identified in the tournament to feature in the national team, so that the youths will be more committed in the game of football with the believe that theirs is the turn next, and this will reduce the rate of crime in our society.
He used the opportunity to thank Barr. Adamade for the steadfastness in the past seven years and asked God to grant him the strength and resources to unite the youths in Obudu.
The Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Mr. David Undeshi also known as Mayor, said courage and the zeal to set records has sustain the momentum over the last seven years and maintained that at seven, the organizing committee is about to set the space for others to follow.
The finals was played by the Academy Football Club of Obudu and Begiaka Football Club. The match ended in a 1 – 1 draw, had Begiaka won a 3 – 0 penalty shoot out, making the team winning back to back.
The event futred presentation of goal medals to selected and deserving invited guests. Principal among them were Coach Sampson Siasia, Mr. Elvis Abu and Arct. Eric Akpo.
Special recognition was given to best coach, highest goal scorer, best team, best goalkeeper among others.
