Osayi-Samuel Hosts U-13 Football Finals in Benin
*Gets Commendation from Edo Sports Commission Boss*
The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, earlier today played host to Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel, MON, who was in Benin City to witness the final and third-place matches of his Under-13 football tournament held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
In a statement issued by the Media Officer to the Executive Chairman, Mr. Edoko Wilson Edoko, Hon. Enabulele commended Osayi-Samuel for his unwavering commitment to grassroots sports development.
He emphasized that His Excellency, Governor Monday Okpebholo, is deeply passionate about identifying and nurturing young talents across the state.
The Under-13 football tournament, organised by Osayi-Samuel who currently plays for Fenerbahçe FC in Turkey has now entered its second edition in Edo State. The launch of the new edition was announced during a media parley on April 24, 2025, at the Edo State Sports Commission’s Media Centre in Benin City.
“The Governor specifically mandated that communities within Edo State be actively engaged in discovering raw talents, and that structured tournaments should be organised to provide platforms for them to compete at local, national, and international levels,” Enabulele stated.
Hon. Enabulele further underscored the strategic importance of focusing on the Under-13 age category. “When we talk about Under-13, we are deliberate about ‘catching them young.’ This tournament aligns perfectly with the Governor’s vision for sports development in Edo State,” he said, adding that the Commission is fully prepared to support the initiative with facilities and other required resources.
“We thank you for all you have done, but we are asking for even more support from you, especially towards our male and female top-flight league teams — Bendel Insurance and Edo Queens FC,” Enabulele appealed. He described Osayi-Samuel as the first international player from Benin to return home to impact his people through such an initiative.
“It’s not only about sending finances and other essential resources, but also about you coming in person to witness what you are doing to impact the lives of many youths. This greatly shows your undiluted commitment to sports development in Edo State,” he added.
The Chairman of the Edo State Football Association, Mr. Fred Newton, equally appreciated Osayi-Samuel for believing in grassroots talent identification and praised Hon. Enabulele for creating an enabling environment for sports to thrive in Edo.
On his part, Bright Osayi-Samuel MON lauded Hon. Enabulele’s leadership and promised to do more to uplift sports in Edo State. “I have the platform to reach out to other international football stakeholders in Europe to establish a more viable platform to empower our youths through sports. I applaud Hon. Enabulele for his warm reception,” he said.
“Today, I am in Benin because I have a tournament for U-13. It is the final today, and I wanted to come and watch. I couldn’t make it last year, so this year I made sure I am here. This is my home. I’ll do anything to give my support. I love football, and I want to see new stories from Benin,” Osayi-Samuel added.
Speaking on the future of discovered talents at the tournament, he hinted that his football agency may help in transitioning some of the players to international platforms. “Hopefully, I can find one or two ballers and bring them to Europe. That’s the goal — to give them a chance,” he said.
At the tournament’s grand finale, Okuta FC emerged champions and received ₦1,000,000, while Sanco City FC clinched the runners-up position with ₦750,000. Shooting Arrows FC took home ₦500,000 for placing third, along with a trophy for the overall winners.
