13 November 2008
At last, the much-anticipated Inspector General of Police Cup kicks off in a big way this weekend in Benin City, Edo State.
After months of careful preparation and painstaking planning, the soccer tournament designed for serving officers of the Nigeria Police Force and non-league players will be the only unifying thing amongst the aforementioned persons as the battle for soccer supremacy hots up.
Taking centre stage in the big kickoff are the Edo and Delta Police Commands, both of whom are expected to slug it out in what is expected to be a fierce battle as they intend to sendout their title aspirations with the needed victory, a crucial factor in any team's quest for glory.
Between both teams, so much can be expected because the two states boast of a rich record in soccer, but the true claim of that can only be proven on the pitch, which sees the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mike Okiro, taking the ceremonial kickoff before the slugfest of soccerartistry.
Already, the Cup to be given to the winning team, which was donated by Itemuagbor who,beside providing cash reward for deserving teams, also elected to kit all teams who make it into the quarter-final all the way to the final, is attracting the attention of all teams,even before the final match in Kano.
Speaking ahead of this weekend's commencement of the tournament, spokesman of the ManagementCommittee, Austin Mgbolu, assured that all necessary things aimed at making the event a memorable affair were in place.
"We are set for the start of this important tournament named after the Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro. All that we need to ensure the smooth take off of the competition have been provided and we look forward to a memorable soccer extravaganza", said Mgbolu, who informed that teams are already engaged in a war of words over who would take the winners crown on November 29.
"Of course, some teams are so confident in predicting that they are good for the crown but that is still far way. The emphasis now is to win matches and enter into the knockout round", said Mgbolu, a former Spokesman of the Nigeria Football Association.
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