The newly elected chairmen of the entire 23 local government football councils in Benue state have been inaugurated.
At the inauguration in Makurdi, Benue state capital, incumbent Chairperson of Benue State FA, Rt. Hon. Mrs Margaret Icheen, told the new chairmen and their board to forge developmental ways of uplifting football in their domain.
While wondering why few individuals recently signed a petition to court with claims that the former local football council boards were given four years in office, Mrs. Icheen who is a ranking board member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) warned against taking football issues to conventional courts.
Instead, she admonished any aggrieved persons at anytime to always explore internal dispute resolution mechanisms, adding, “No one is meant to take football matters to conventional courts. Doing so could attract sanctions to you.”
On why she is stepping down, the FA Chairperson said, “I’m stepping aside to give another person chance to develop football in the state. I don’t believe in staying in a position forever.”
Declaring the event open, Benue State Director of Sports Comrade Philip Ter Nongu hailed the President of Ratels Sports Development Foundation (RSDF) Barr. Paul Edeh for always partnering and sponsoring sporting activities in the state.
He lamented non-execution of governor’s cup in the past seven years and expressed hope that the new government led by Rev. Fr. Alia will revive the competition which serves as veritable platform for discovering of budding talents from parts of the state.
Certificates were later handed over to the elected chairmen from all 23 LGAs in the state after they took oath of offices.
