The Organisers of the Flying Officers Cup has officially announced on Thursday that the leading broadcast Station, Africa Independent Television (AIT) will beam live the final match of the 2021 Edition of the Flying Officers Cup, the biggest Women Football Pre-season Championship in Africa.
Ratels Sports Development Foundation (RSDF), main sponsors of the Pre-season Championship in the build-up to the Competition sought to partner with AIT as official broadcast partners for the Flying Officers Cup at a meeting held between the management team of the largest privately operated terrestrial television network, led by Anegbe Anthony Akiotu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Group MD, Director and Ratels Sports Development Foundation, led by the President Barrister Paul Edeh, a deal was brokered which will enable AIT to beam live the finals of the Competition.
While endorsing the Flying Officers Cup and accepting AIT to be the official broadcast media partner of the tournament, the GMD of AIT commended the Organisers for taking up the challenge of supporting women’s football in Nigeria.
He recounted that in the past, most league matches were aired live, which built the enthusiasm of Nigerians, who always scamper for their television whenever matches were to be played. He also noted that AIT will always be inclined to encourage organisations like Ratels Sports Development Foundation that is selflessly seeking to promote women’s football.
“We at AIT are very excited to be part of this year’s Flying Officers Cup,” Akiotu said.
“We have been at the forefront of promoting women’s football which is one sport that needs to a lot of media attention. The Flying Officer’s Cup will give us the opportunity to avail our numerous viewers across Nigeria of the best of Women’s Football, which they have been yearning for a long.
“Sports is a major unifying force which is an important part of our contents and football, in particular, plays a key role to a large section of our target demographic.
“We in AIT will make out various sports platforms available to your foundation and we sincerely hope to have more partnerships with Ratels Sports Development Foundation and make more impact in our society through Sports.” He Concluded.
Speaking on the partnership, Ratels Sports Development Foundation (RSDF) President, Barrister Paul Edeh, who was accompanied by other Organizing Committee members of the Flying Officers Cup noted that the idea behind the Flying Officers Cup is to immortalize the late Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile for her selfless service to Nigeria and also to keep her legacies alive. He stated that RSDF choice of AIT as the official media broadcast partner for the Flying Officers Cup is based on its consistent support for the growth of women’s football and the girl-child.
“We are delighted to be doing this with AIT, a station known for its uniqueness in live broadcast. This is another huge leap for Ratels Sports Development Foundation and would surely help complement the efforts put together so far by the Organizing Committee.
“The Flying Officers Cup will keep aiming for greatness, and we at Ratels Sports Development Foundation will continue to push for more of this, which will clearly help to develop women’s football in Nigeria and beyond.” He Concluded.
The Africa Independent Television (AIT) is the largest privately operated terrestrial television network with stations in twenty-four out of thirty-six states in Nigeria. The 2021 edition of the Flying Officers Cup will take place from the 10th to the 24th of October 2021 in Abuja at the Area 10 Sports Complex Abuja.