By Silvernews
Organisers of the 8th Stephen Keshi National Under-17 Football Tournament have lamented the late withdrawal of approval to use the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, a development that forced the relocation of the competition’s final.
The annual tournament, organised by the Stephen Keshi Football and Vocational Training Centre (SKFVTC), Obazuwa, is held in memory of the late Stephen Keshi, former Super Eagles captain and coach, whose contributions to Nigerian football remain widely acknowledged.
The tournament commenced on December 13, 2025, at the Nigeria Postal Training Institute, Egor, Benin City, with the final initially scheduled for December 18 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
Speaking on the matter, the Secretary of the SKFVTC and a member of the organising committee, Comrade Austin Popo, said the organisers complied with all required procedures in seeking official backing and facility approval.
According to him, two separate requests were submitted ahead of the final—one seeking financial support from the Edo State Government, addressed to the Governor through the Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, and another requesting approval to use the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
He said the latter request was transmitted through the Edo State Football Association (FA) Chairman to the Sports Commission.
Popo explained that despite consultations with the Edo FA Chairman, Mr Fred Newton, and repeated follow-ups at the Sports Commission, no formal response was received until the eve of the final.
He further stated that the Sports Commission Chairman later indicated that approval for the use of the stadium was beyond his authority, adding that such approval, according to him, rests with the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
With no approval granted and the final imminent, the organisers relocated the match to a college field along Benin Technical Road, where the final was played under modest conditions.
Describing the development as unfortunate, Popo said the situation underscored challenges associated with administrative coordination in sports development.
“This is more than a football competition. It is a memorial programme that includes lectures and youth development initiatives,” he said.
“The manner in which an event organised in honour of Stephen Keshi is handled raises concerns about institutional support for grassroots sports.”
He dismissed suggestions in the Sports Commission’s response that the organisers were attempting to blackmail or discredit officials, describing such claims as misplaced.
“This account is neither blackmail nor an attempt to pull anyone down,” Popo said. “It is a factual presentation of events and an appeal for clearer administrative processes.”
Despite the setback, the organisers reiterated their resolve to sustain the tournament annually as part of efforts to preserve the legacy of Stephen Keshi and promote youth football development across the country.
