…receives third-place trophy on behalf of Okpebholo
BY BERNADETTE IDALU
BENIN CITY — The Edo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, on Monday received members of Edo Queens Football Club at Government House, Benin City, following their impressive third-place finish at the 2025 “1st Governor Douye Diri Women’s Preseason Football Tournament” held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Idahosa, who received the team on behalf of Governor Monday Okpebholo, commended the players and management for their commitment, resilience, and consistency in flying the State’s flag high in national competitions.
Speaking after being presented with the third-place trophy, Idahosa praised the players for their determination throughout the week-long tournament, held between October 18 and 25, describing their success as “commendable and inspiring.”
“We are here as a government to always encourage you. On behalf of my principal, Governor Monday Okpebholo, I want to congratulate you all. You have made Edo proud once again,” he said.
He lauded the efforts of the Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Desmond Amadin Enabulele, board members, civil servants, the coaching crew, and the technical staff for their collective contributions to the club’s continued success.
Idahosa further applauded Enabulele’s leadership for reviving the fortunes of Bendel Insurance FC, noting that both the male and female teams have continued to bring honour to Edo State.
“Mr Chairman, I thank you for your leadership. You have taken Bendel Insurance FC from the shadows into national reckoning, and I believe the team will perform even better this coming season,” the deputy governor added.
In his remarks, Hon. Enabulele explained that the preseason tournament in Bayelsa provided a valuable platform for Edo Queens to assess new recruits and fine-tune their strategies ahead of the 2025/2026 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) season.
“The tournament gave us the chance to test the strength of new players and assess team cohesion,” he said. “Team Edo was the only side that did not concede a single goal throughout the competition, and that shows our defensive strength.”
Head Coach of Edo Queens FC, Mr. Moses Aduku, expressed optimism about the club’s prospects in the new season, unveiling the team’s renewed slogan, “Second is not an option.”
According to him, “The preseason tournament helped us evaluate our performance, identify areas for improvement, and prepare adequately for the challenges ahead. We are determined to start strong and maintain consistency throughout the league.”