Ideye sponsors youth tourney in PH
Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye said on Thursday that he would sponsor a 32-team football tournament in Port Harcourt.
Ideye, who plays for Olympiakos of Greece, made the disclosure in a phone interview from Athens with sports writers in Port Harcourt.
He said that he was putting resources together to sponsor the one month fiesta to keep youths in Port Harcourt and its environs busy.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the first edition of the tournament was called ‘The Brown Ideye Challenge’.
“It’s something I have planned to do for some time and I believe the youths of Port Harcourt will greatly benefit from this chance to showcase their talents to the world.
“A lot of people want to play football but do not have the chance at any level whatsoever, so I believe this will be one opportunity for them to shine,” he stated.
The Secretary of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the tournament, Tonte Sanipe, disclosed that registration for the tournament would last a week, starting from April 23.
Sanipe said a lot of football clubs had indicated interest to be part of the tournament, expressing his optimism that one week was enough for registration.
“We have been planning this tournament since December, 2015 and we always had it in mind that it will hold at this time.
“We propose that the event kicks off on May 2 with the final match before the end of May. The sponsor has promised to be present,” Sanipe said.
The Super Eagles striker started his football career with Ocean Boys FC and later moved to Nuechatel Xamax, Sochaux, Dinamo Kiev and then to West Bromwich Albion.
