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Barrister Paul Edeh: Sheroes Cup organiser explains pre-season tourney consistency
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
The President of Ratels Sports Development Foundation, Barrister Paul Edeh has opened up on the reason for consistently organising the women’s football pre-season tournament, Sheroes Cup.
Edo Queens won the sixth edition after a 1-0 win against Naija Ratels FC last Friday and the organisers of the Sheroes Cup revealed that the passion for giving back to the girl child boosted the consistency of the competition.
“Without consistency, you can never be adjudged to have achieved any goal that you set for yourself in life,” Edeh told journalists.
“For me, it is all about giving back to the girl child and giving opportunity to teams to be able to prepare in the course of the league season. We have come a long way.
“It’s become a household name and brand wherein all teams participating in the league are eager to be part and parcel of the pre-season tournament. For me, it is indeed a privilege to be the one organising it.”
The tournament has served as a preparatory ground for the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership with the winner of the 2022 edition, Delta Queens going on to win the domestic league title.
Edeh, who also doubles as the Benue State Football Association chairman, believes the winners Edo Queens can go all the way in the coming Premiership season, emulating previous winners Bayelsa Queens and Delta Queens.
“There is no doubt of that. Last season was won by Delta Queens and they ended up winning the league,” he continued.
“Bayelsa Queens also came here and won and indeed they ended up winning the league season. I think that this is a veritable tool for every team to be able to prepare. The testimonies and testaments we have received over the years from participants as they always look forward to it because it gives them the opportunity to refresh their players and also try new players particularly this edition where we made it open that you can swap as many players as they can.
“You can see that players who naturally would not have gotten the opportunity to play competitive games have that opportunity. I think it is putting them forward to be the best they can be. My passion derives from the fact that whatever you want to do or is worth doing is worth doing well.
“Having seen that this is one avenue that I can also give back and impact my generation. It has always been a drive for me to be able to do what I am doing. When I see these young girls for instance in the 2021 edition where the Most Valuable Player, Joy Omewa ended up getting a call to play on Denmark and today she is doing excellently well.
“When I see these young girls thriving and growing as well as doing what they love to do most, it gives me a sense of duty and urgency to be able to do more. That is why we are consistent in doing what we are doing today.”
Sheroes Cup (formerly called Naija Ratels Pre-Season Championship then Flying Officers Cup) is an annual Women’s football preseason tournament. Since the first edition in 2019, it has continued to attract some of the biggest domestic clubs in the country and fast growing to become the biggest preseason tournament in Nigeria.
