Organisers of this year’s memorial soccer competition in honour of former Super Eagles captain and coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi have expressed satisfaction with the high level of interest the project is generating.
Speaking on behalf of the organizing committee of Stephen Okechukwu Keshi U17 Tournament, Comrade Danladi Musa of AGS Communication, the umbrella body of Nigerian footballers past and still playing, said all members and states that intend to take part in the tourney have been very cooperative.
Musa disclosed that several states have signed in for the maiden event, billed for June 7th at University of Benin Stadium.
Among early arrivals are Rivers, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano Kwara, Delta, Lagos, Plateau, Oyo and host Edo state, while more states have been making enquiries about the tournament.
He said Keshi remains the only Nigerian to have won the African Cup of Nations both as captain of the Super Eagles in 1994 and as head coach in 2013 in South Africa.
The Keshi U17 Committee members has Coach Godwin Izilein as Chairman, Danladi Musa, Stephen Cole, David Aigbovo will also be there, a representative of the Stephen Keshi family, Edo FA Scribe, Emmanuel Ajibola, Harrison Iyomana, former Super Eagles Media Officer, Ben Alaiya.
At the same time, a representative of Hon. Ogbeide Ihama, who donated the trophy for the tourney, has been in the forefront of immortalising Keshi, while Nweke Ifeanyi will serve as Committee Scribe.
The NFF and the Edo State Referees Association will also be represented on the committee that will organise the maiden championship of Nigeria’s longest serving national team skipper.
Musa said: “I am thrilled that Nigerian former footballers and their associates are coming together immortalise one their own in Stephen Keshi and that is why I have donated a trophy for the event and ready to do more.”
