Pelican FC Wins Maiden Queen's Cup Football Competition

By: Esther Okoi

In what could be described as an historic moment for female football in Cross River State, the Pelican Stars Football Club of Calabar has emerged winners, lifting the trophy in the just concluded maiden edition of the Queens’s Cup Female Football Competition.

In the grand finale of the tournament between the Pelican Stars and Imo Strikers held at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, the Wife of the State Governor, Rev. Eyoanwan Bassey Otu described the tournament as a “historic moment for female football in our dear State after several decades of neglect, thereby marking a significant milestone in our determination to revive the reputation of female football in Cross River State.”

According to the Governor’s wife, “the Queen’s Cup Football Tournament as a project is an initiative borne out of my passion and in-depth desire geared towards discovering and harnessing the dormant talent in the girl child while giving them a platform to thrive and make their voices heard.”

Rev. Eyoanwan Otu informed that as part of the core mandate of her pet project through her Non Government Organisation, Humanity Without Borders Empowerment Initiative and in line with the Governor’s people’s first agenda, she has identified sports as a means of engaging, empowering and harnessing the untapped potentials of the girl child that will provide arrays of opportunities for them to live their dreams.

Describing the maiden edition as a ground breaking event showcasing the extraordinary skills, determination and passion of the young female footballers, the Governor’s Wife stated that “one of the most remarkable features of this event has been the off the field opportunities for dialogue, and advocacy that bothers on  issues facing women in sports and issues of gender equality, equal pay, recognition, opportunities, sportsman discipline and discipline sparking meaningful conversations.”

She congratulated the Pelican Stars FC for emerging victorious and thanked the Cross River State Government ably led by Senator Bassey Edet Otu, the Ministry of Sports Development the planning committee of the tournament and the various teams for making the event a success, promising a better outing in subsequent editions.

Earlier in her welcome address, the State Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Hon. Agnes Atsu informed that the journey started on February 19, 2024 with four teams from the State and one team each from Akwa Ibom and Imo States.

According to her,”these teams have done tremendously well, showing their skills and have arrived at the point where we have the finals between the Pelican Stars of Cross River State and the Imo strikers.”

Hon. Atsu mentioned that Her Excellency’s passion has been to take sports back to the grassroots and the Queens Tournament is the beginning for female football like it was done with the Governor’s Cup in December 2023.

She added that as a fallout of the Governor’s cup, the State now has another team, a feeder team to Rover’s Football Club Team, who are currently in Bayelsa State, representing Cross River State in the U-18 Football Tournament.

It is worthy of mention that Queen's Cup Female Football Tournament is a move towards developing female football in the State, grooming female footballers, creating financial and sports empowerment for the girl child, creating healthy competition between female footballers and to create and sustain female football awareness in Cross River State.

The Tournament which is a six team tournament featured the Obubra Queens; UNICAL Malabresses; Imo Strikers; Nkor Academy; Pelican Stars FC; and Ibom Strikers.

The final of the Queens Tournament which saw the Governor’s wife taking the kick-off had in attendance, the Governor of the State, Senator Bassey Edet Otu; the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey; the Speaker of the State house of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem; amongst others.