By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar
A bill seeking to formalise the Queen’s Cup Competition, an initiative of the wife of the Cross River State governor, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu, has passed second reading at the State House of Assembly.
Chairman of the State Sports Commission, Lawrence Itanya, disclosed this while unveiling plans to expand the tournament into a multi-sport grassroots development platform.
He said the proposed law would give the competition statutory backing and strengthen its role as a pipeline for discovering and nurturing young female athletes across the state.
“The state government is already taking steps to formalise the initiative, with a bill before the House of Assembly this March to establish the Queen’s Cup as a statutory foundation,” Itanya said.
He explained that while the first two editions focused mainly on football, the next edition will feature seven additional sports, transforming it into a broader multi-sport event targeting female athletes in Calabar and adjoining communities.
According to him, the expansion is designed to position the competition as a feeder system for higher-level meets, including the Niger Delta Games and the National Sports Festival.
“The Queen’s Cup is not just about winning trophies. It is about discovering talents and building a pipeline for future competitions,” he added.
Itanya noted that participation has grown from six teams in the maiden edition to 13 last year, expressing optimism that the next outing could attract no fewer than 36 teams from across the state.
He said the competition remains free for participants, with government providing kits and logistics support, although funding constraints have limited full sponsorship of accommodation and feeding as seen in earlier editions.
The chairman urged local government authorities to take a more active role in grassroots sports development, stressing the need for broader institutional support.
He also highlighted the symbolic finale of the tournament, traditionally held on April 10 to mark the birthday of the governor’s wife, adding that the match is staged under floodlights to boost fan engagement.
The commission further disclosed the introduction of an online registration system to enhance data management and planning, with teams expected to register via its website or submit completed forms with identification at designated centres.
