President of Ratels Sports Development Foundation (RSDF), Paul Edeh, who is also proprietor of Naija Ratels (FC), has joined Benue FA chairmanship race.
Explaining his ambition to stakeholders in Benue football from all the local councils of the state in Makurdi, at the weekend, after picking his nomination form, Edeh said his desire to lead the FA was anchored on competence and commitment to drive grassroots football development.
The RSDF boss, who sponsors the state FA league, said he is not in the race to exploit the system, but to make enduring impact on the game.
He said: “Our incumbent chairperson has been very visionary about football development and it is my desire to advance her impactful steps in next dispensation.
“I have come to serve and not to be served. I have come to collaborate with stakeholders to move football forward. My regular thoughts and how a progressive model should be is that football development run from bottom to top.
“Benue, from ages, has budding talents in various communities and it is our duty to fish them out. We will work with referees, coaches and others to organise refresher trainings, just as we will encourage many to attend courses that will help them improve themselves in their chosen vocation and profession.”
“Football, all over the world, has become big business. The Federal Government having this understanding recently came up with the 10-year football masterplan and it is our responsibility to find creative ways to uplift football in Benue State.
“Most of you may not be aware that the current drive of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is anchored towards grassroots football development. This means that all the attention is focused on you being administrators at the local councils, as the core anchor of football development.”
In their response, most of the chairmen and secretaries from the councils assured Edeh of their readiness to support him.
Chairman of Oju Council, Raphael Adoga, popularly known as Father, said: “In Edeh, we, as chairmen from the 23 local councils, have found one who is capable of taking Benue football to greater heights.”
The meeting of the stakeholders was preceded with a formal inauguration of elected chairmen of the local football councils in Makurdi, Benue State capital.
At the inauguration, incumbent chairperson of Benue State FA, Mrs. Margaret Icheen, told the new chairmen and their board to forge developmental ways of uplifting football in their domain.
