By Ikenna Nwokedi
A two-day exhibition football matches to herald the launching of the Asaba Super Cup competition with support from one of Africa’s fastest growing Airline Company, Air Peace was held at the Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba last weekend in the presence of football fans in Asaba.
The Asaba Super Cup tournament witnessed the coming of seasoned football coaches and agents from some European countries who were on ground to spot and unearth the next big football stars coming out of Nigeria.
A total of 10 football clubs comprising of Delta Marines Football Club, Delta Marines Football Academy, Young Shall Grow Football Club, Ndame Football Academy, Remmy Uche Football Academy, Sporting Football Club, Delta Lions Football Club, Travelling Football Academy, Ekuku Agbor United and Delta Lions Football Club featured in the two-day football programme streamed live to football followers by the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) TV/Radio YouTube Channel and Delta Marines FC TV YouTube channel.
According to the Administrative Officer of Delta Marines Football Club, Miss Jennifer Terundu Aor, the Asaba Super Cup would be an annual signature football tournament in the administrative capital of Delta State that will attract football fans in the state and beyond while discovering and nurturing young talented footballers bearing in mind that Delta State has produced great footballers such as Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Sunday Oliseh, the Late Stephen Keshi and a whole lot of other stars.
“Asaba is a city that hosts sporting events especially the Stephen Keshi Stadium. That is why we want to bring on board a signature football tournament that will hold on annual basis geared towards discovering football talents as well as draw football fans to the stadium to watch good football on display.
“Over 180 footballers featured in this programme as Asaba Super Cup is a fairly new project which we intend to go global as an off-season competition. That is why we ensured that the actions are streamed live on ABS TV/Radio and Delta Marines FC TV YouTube channels to showcase this project. We appreciate Air Peace and ABS TV for their support towards the project this year,” Miss Aor stated.
The youthful female football administrator averred that FIFA licensed agents and directors of football representing several football clubs in Europe were flown into Asaba for the Asaba Super Cup project.
She affirmed that the foreign football scouts and managers were impressed with the style of play from the players, positioning, tactics and formation as well as the stadium facility, aesthetics and the city’s ambiance.
Jennifer conveyed the appreciation of the management of Delta Marines FC to the Delta Football Association and the Delta State Sports Commission, the football clubs that participated, Air Peace and ABS TV/Radio for making the programme colourful and worthwhile while assuring that the next edition will be a proper competitive tournament with a trophy and cash prizes.
Other highlights of the launching of the Asaba Super Cup was the official unveiling of the female team of Delta Marines FC in an exhibition match against the reigning Nigerian women football league champions, Delta Queens FC.
