The initiator and founder of the Betsy Obaseki Women’s Football Tournament, the first lady of Edo State Government, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, has declared that no matter the political situation in Edo State, not minding the change of government from the PDP to the APC, Edo State will remain the bedrock and the true home-ground of the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament as gathered by Nigeriasoccernet.com.
Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, who made a surprised appearance at the draw ceremony of the biggest preseason women's football tournament in Nigeria in the last four years, midway into the event in the Edo States Government House's Festival Hall, Benin City, noted with a warning that the desire to make the FIFA recognized pre-season event may take a different dimension if the new government of the day openly rejected and gave the event a cold shoulder.
She noted that such a retrogressive move may force the event's board of trustees to move the BOWFT out of Edo State to another welcoming venue like Lagos, Bayelsa, and others as host of the championship since the event is a private partnership-owned one under the Betsy Obaseki Women Foundation.
Mrs. Obaseki noted that the private partnership event status gave the BOWFT the freedom to become a well-organized international football championship which the event is today with the involvement of two international clubs in attendance.
She stressed that the elevation of the total prize monies to N30million as the champion's prize money at N10million, second place at N7million, third place at N5million, and fourth place at N3million, with each of the 10 consolation prizes at N750,000, has made the Betsy Obaseki Women’s Football Tournament a proper FIFA standard tournament.
She hinted that the FIFA recognition had been a priority since the second edition of the tournament when she was invited to the FIFA Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, to receive an award for the great organization of the event.
"I want to use this opportunity to say thank you to members of the Organizing Committee, the board of Trustees, the women's football clubs, and all those who made the tournament a huge success in the last four years. We say thank you to Edo State for being the host in the four years and this is likely to change".
The 4th edition of the Betsy Obaseki Women’s Football Tournament will officially flag off at the Main Bowl of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City on Monday, with other preliminary group matches going at the Western Boys High School, Ikpoba Hills, and the University of Benin Sports Complex.
The tournament preliminary group games have been broken into four groups, groups A to E with Group A made of Edo Queens, FC Robo, and Remo Ladies tagged as the group of death. Because of the presence of three tough teams.
Group B has Bayelsa, Brave Hearts Fc of Benin City, Naija Ratels, and Espoir Fc of Benin Republic.
Group C has Nasarawa Amazons, Confluence Queens of Lokoja, and Abia Angels.
Group E has Heartland Queens of Owerri, Fortress Ladies of Benin City, Delta Babes of Asaba, and Aigle Royale of Benin Republic.
Credit: BOWFT Media