A much expected one-day football competition in honour of late grassroots coach, Osahon Emokpae, which was initially scheduled for this Thursday, has been postponed until a later date, Sports247 reports.
The competition, which was the brainchild of Nigerian Grassroots Football Federation (NGFF) secretary-general, Pastor Oscar Ezinwa Emmanuel, was initially billed to take place at Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Field in FESTAC Town, Lagos.
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It was meant to feature 12 clubs competing on a knock-out basis, with each game lasting only 20 minutes, without half-time break, in order to meet up with a single day’s time frame from 8am to 4pm.
However, Pastor Oscar disclosed in a media release that was widely circulated on Tuesday night that the need to give the late coach a befitting sendforth informed the postponement.
He pointed out that a rushed event will not properly convey all good intentions for the amiable tactician, who was until recently the caretaker committee chairman of Badagry Division Football Association (BDFA).
Emokpae was also the founder and coach of Young Stars FC of Satellite Town, which produced Super Eagles’ striker, Paul Ebere Onuachu, as well as a former technical director of Vejle Football Academy, with Anthony Nwakaeme as captain.
Late Emokpae had also been coach of Enyimba Feeders in Aba, FC Ebedei of Sagamu and National Grassroots Dream Team (under the banner of NGFF) at Surulere, Lagos.
The NGFF scribe took another look at the coach’s long line of achievements and concluded that the competition tagged Osahon Emokpae Memorial Football Carnival must be staged in a grand way, hence the postponement.
‘TM Oscar’ stated: “Please be informed of a shift in date of our proposed memorial football tournament in honour of our beloved late Coach Osahon Emokpae.
“The competition, which was originally scheduled for this Thursday, 13th August, 2026 at FHA Sports Complex, FESTAC Town, will hold at a later date. This is because of some logistics reasons.
“We are very sorry and promise to strengthen our plans. Our dear Coach Osahon deserves a benefiting event in his honour, and this is what we hope to do with your support.
“We will achieve it, by God’s grace. A new date would be communicated in due course. We sincerely regret the inconveniences this postponement may cause you. Thank you for your understanding.”
