Sports

How We Used Besty Obaseki Tourney To Check Human Trafficking – Edo First Lady

Published

1 year ago

October 7, 2024

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki says the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament (BOWFT) has been used to tackle human trafficking in the state.

The First Lady noted that the BOWFT has reduced human trafficking in the state as it has created a platform and pathway through which girls have a successful career in female football.

Mrs. Obaseki spoke to journalists in Benin on Monday at a press briefing to herald the 4th edition of BOWFT tourney.

The First Lady, who noted that when the tournament started years back, it started with 12 teams, disclosed that this year’s edition teams increased to 14.

Mrs. Obaseki, while stating that 2 out of the 14 teams are foreign, added that nine premiership clubs are also participating in the event that will last 10 days.

The First Lady who disclosed that this year’s tourney has its theme as ‘Say No to Teen Pregnancy and Abandonment’, added: “In the first edition, the theme was Girl Child Education; second year was, Say No to Drugs. For the third year, it was Gender-based Violence while this year, it’s Say No to Teen Pregnancy and Abandonment.”

The First Lady, while noting that the tourney is beyond playing football, said it seeks to touch the lives of women in Edo state and Nigeria at large.

She said the idea of the tournament was to empower women in Nigeria and support them to make a career out of football.

When asked future of the tourney when she leaves office, the Edo First Lady said the tournament would certainly continue after the end of Obaseki’s led-administration.

She disclosed that the tournament is private sector funded and sponsored with a board in place alongside a marketer, adding that she is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the tourney with other notable Nigerians and organisations as members.

Speaking on cash prize of the tourney, the Chairman of the Board of Trustee of the BOWFT said: ‘The prize has also increased and doubled. We started with N5 million for the winner but this year, we have increased it to N10 million for the winner.

“After our first outing, FIFA recognized our efforts in promoting female football and empowering women and gave us an award,” she added.

According to her, when her husband took over power in the state 8 years back, sports was completely dead but with efforts the administration was about to revive sports and push Edo Queens from beneath to top of league.

She added: “Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration revived sports and ensure it brought back Bendel Insurance and Edo Queens to winning way as the Benin Clubs are now national and West African champions.

“Since this tournament, Edo Queens are getting better as they became the champion last year and continue in that line by winning the WAFU Cup to represent West Africa.

“This tournament has produced players that played for our female national team and also for foreign Clubs as our efforts are yielding desirable results.

“The tournament is helping to grow and develop female football in Nigeria also creating opportunities for our female children to make a career out of football”.

Up Next

2024 Ballon d’Or: All You Need To Know

Don't Miss

Real Madrid Announce Squad Vs Villarreal

Comments

Sports

JUST IN: Dembélé Named FIFA Best Men’s Player, Bonmatí Wins Women’s Award

Published

2 days ago

December 16, 2025

Editor

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé has been awarded the FIFA Best Men’s Player for 2025, following a season in which he contributed significantly to both his club and the France national team.

Dembélé, known for his pace, creativity, and goal-scoring ability, played a central role in Paris Saint-Germain’s campaigns across domestic and European competitions. His performances for the national team also helped France secure notable results in international fixtures.

Speaking on the recognition, Dembélé said, “It is a great honour to receive this award. I could not have achieved this without my teammates at PSG and in the national team, whose support has been invaluable.”

In the women’s category, Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí was named FIFA Best Women’s Player for 2025. Bonmatí was influential in Barcelona’s domestic and European campaigns, providing leadership, vision, and creativity in midfield. She also played a key role in Spain’s international successes.

“This award reflects the hard work of my teammates and coaches,” Bonmatí said. “I am grateful for their guidance and support throughout the season.”

The announcements reaffirm FIFA’s recognition of individual excellence in football while highlighting the contributions of players to both club and country.

Sports

Court Fixes Date To Hear Sala Compensation Dispute

Published

1 week ago

December 9, 2025

Editor

A commercial court examining the long-running dispute between Cardiff City and French club Nantes over compensation for the death of Emiliano Sala in a plane crash said Monday it would give its decision on March 30 next year.

Sala, a 28-year-old Argentine striker, died when the light aircraft taking him to the Welsh capital came down in the English Channel on January 21, 2019, two days after he had signed for the then-Premier League side. He and pilot David Ibbotson were killed.

The Welsh club took the case to the Nantes commercial court in 2023 to claim compensation for loss of income and other damages suffered by the club as a result of the player’s death.

Following an analysis conducted by an expert appointed by Cardiff City, the club estimated their losses at over 120 million euros ($139.5 million). Lawyers for both clubs made their cases at Monday’s hearing.

The Welsh club argue that Nantes, through their intermediary, agent Willie McKay, were the organisers of the private flight on which the footballer was travelling and that, if the transfer was effective at the time of the accident according to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), it is the organisation of this flight that is at issue.

Cardiff City’s lawyer, Olivier Loizon, told the court Monday, Willie McKay “could not have been unaware of the illegality of the flight”, and argued that the agent had acted with “negligence”.

“Whatever the ultimate cause of the accident, (Sala) should not have been on the flight,” he added.

Nantes’ lawyer, Jerome Marsaudon, insisted Monday the only agent authorised by the club in connection with the transfer was Mark McKay, the son of Willie McKay.

The elder McKay “was simply helping his son, given his extensive experience”, the lawyer said.

“It is sad to see that Cardiff have exploited this tragedy and turned it into a genuine legal farce,” he added. “Nothing in this case justifies holding FC Nantes liable.”

Prior to the start of the hearing, a Nantes representative said the club “have no doubt that Cardiff’s claims will be rejected outright, just like all the others”.

In another case related to the dispute between the two clubs, CAS ruled in 2022 that Sala’s transfer had definitely been finalised at the time of his death.

In 2023, world football’s governing body FIFA ordered Cardiff to pay Nantes the balance of Sala’s transfer fee, which at the time amounted to just over 11 million euros out of a total of 17 million euros.

Sports

Salah A ‘Disgrace’ For Liverpool Outburst – Carragher

Published

1 week ago

December 9, 2025

Editor

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher labelled Mohamed Salah “a disgrace” on Monday after the Egypt star’s stunning outburst at Reds boss Arne Slot.

Salah said he had been “thrown under a bus” and had no relationship with Slot after he was left on the bench for last Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Leeds.

It was the third successive game that Salah had been kept out of the starting line-up by Slot amid the forward’s loss of form this season.

In response to Salah’s astonishing rant to reporters, Liverpool axed the 33-year-old from the squad for Tuesday’s Champions League clash at Inter Milan.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, Carragher, a 2005 Champions League winner with Liverpool, said: “I thought it was a disgrace what he did after the game.

“Some people have painted it as an emotional outburst. I don’t think it was. I think whenever Mo Salah stops in a mixed zone, which he has done four times in eight years at Liverpool, it’s choreographed with his agent to cause maximum damage and strengthen his own position.

“He’s chosen this weekend to do this now, and he’s waited I think for a bad result… everyone involved with the club (feeling) like they’re in the gutter, and he’s chosen that time to go for the manager and maybe try to get him sacked.”

Salah is a two-time Premier League champion with Liverpool and has also won the Champions League during his iconic eight-year spell at Anfield.

But, although he only signed a new contract in April, Salah hinted he might have played his last game for Liverpool as he prepares to jet off to the African Cup of Nations after their Premier League clash with Brighton at Anfield on Saturday.

Salah has been linked with a lucrative move to the Saudi Pro League and and Carragher added: “What he’s done off the pitch, I think the club have made the right decision in terms of him not going abroad. Whether he will play for Liverpool again, I don’t know.

“I hope he does, because he’s one of the greatest players we’ve ever had, but if you continue like that, and statements like that, if he doesn’t play, who knows.”