Amaechi Cup: RSG Targets Talent Bank For PH Clubs

A midfield action during one of the matches of the maiden edition of Amaechi Cup in Port Harcourt Old Township at No1 field, last year.

The Rivers State Government through the Ministry of Sports is targeting a collation  of gifted players from the second edition o the Governor Chibuike Amaechi Street Soccer Championships tagged Amaechi Cup scheduled to begin in the Diobu area of Port Harcourt City next month.
According to the Commissioner for Sports, Hon Fred Igwe in a statement, “Any talented player discovered in the tournament will be drafted into any of the sate sponsored teams.
He said that the players may have to sign an agreement which will give the sports ministry the right of first refusal to their sign on. If they prove worthy during the championship, into any of the clubs in Port Harcourt.
He explained that part of the reason for organising the tournament was to discover talents for the state teams, promote peace and love among the youth and engage them meaningfully during the exercise.
Hon Igwe said that the agreement with participants would be important because of poachers’ activities and their tendency to swoop on identified talents during the o=tournament in the last edition.
“If we are not smart, a player like Christian Pyagbara wouldn’t be playing for Sharks FC now. If giving their services to the state’s clubs is only what the players can give to the state for giving them the platform to showcase their skills, so be it, after all, it’s all part of the reason for organizing the tournament,” Hon Igwe stated.
Meanwhile, preparation and registration for the tournament for teams in Diobu are expected to get underway this month.
The original proposal for this coming edition according to Hon Igwe was to have the tournament in Diobu and the D-Line axis including its suburbs, but that would mean refixing the Igboukwu field in the heart of D-Line.
Because of time, only the Diobu axis will suffice now with the Rivers State University of Science and Technology’s field as venue, subject to the findings of the local organising committee, LOC of the competition.