By Bassey O. Bassey
The Catholic Missionary Organizations (CMO), has organized a football competition among members of the Catholic Churches in the Diocese of Benin.
Many branches of the church under the Benin Diocese of the Catholic Church participated in the competitive football matches which was in eventually won by the Benin Deanery.
The football competition was sponsored by the Senator representing Edo South Senatorial District, Distinguished Senator Neda Imasuen.
The final match between Abudu Deanery and Benin Deanery CMO, was played at St. Paul Catholic Church Archdiocese, football field at the Airport Road, Benin City, the Benin Deanery CMO, triumphed over Abudu Deanery CMO with three unreplied goals and was rewarded with the coveted giant golden trophy and 250,000 naira cash.
While Abudu Deanery CMO, received a silver trophy and #150,000 cash as second position, the Iguobazuwa Deanery CMO, was gifted a bronze trophy and #50,000 cash.
The beauty of the final football match was the cash gifts reward to all the players of the two finalists. The individual prizes went to the best behaved player from Abudu Deanery with a cash gift of #5,000 and the best player for the tournament went to Benin City Deanary with a cash gift of #10.000.
The final match was watched by a sizable personality and football lovers from within and outside Benin City.
In a post match interview, the elated Senator Neda Imasuen, being not only a member of Catholic faithful but worshipper at St. Gabriel Archangel Catholic Church, appreciated the CMO for organizing such a successful football competition.
The Senator disclosed that he grew up in the Ogbe area of Benin City and attend Catholic Church, even till date, saying that some of the players who participated in the football competition will go very far, if properly encouraged.
As to what prompted him to sponsor the football competition for members of his constituency, he said it was a way of bringing his brothers together in unity, and for relaxation in form of leisure and recreation purposes, as well as to extend his hand of fellowship in seeking their supports towards bringing meaningful development to his constituents.
Senator Imasuen also asserted his willingness to gainfully engage the youth in his constituency in vocational skills, training and empowerments of various kinds like mechanics, hairdressing, electricals, welding and so on.
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