…as organisers unveil schedule for tournament, invites foreign scout, agents for talent hunt
Bayelsa State Commissioner For Youths and Sports Development, Dr Daniel Igali, has pledged that that the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, also known as the Prosperity Cup, will continue to drive grassroots sports development and proper grooming of the abundant football talents in different communities in the state.
He said this was the essence of the sports competition.
The Commissioner, who is also President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation and former Olympic and Commonwealth Wrestling Champion, gave this pledge during the unveiling of the tournament.
Igali reiterated the impact the competition, formerly known as the Restoration Cup, had had on Bayelsans, especially regarding the discovery of talents who now ply their trade in various clubs across the world.
He ascribed the several successes the state had recorded in football to the motivation and exposure from the previous Governor’s Cup tournaments, adding that the present administration led by Senator Douye Diri, would continue to key into the same vision to ensure its continuous success.
Igali, therefore, pledged the continuous support of the Bayelsa State Government to the tournament, urging corprate organisations to join the state government to support sports development across the state.
Director General of the tournament, Mr Ono Akpe, who highlighted the tournament schedule for this year, explained that over the years, the competition had produced professional footballers, who are now playing in different clubs in the world and in Nigeria.
Akpe disclosed that licensed scouts and agents had been invited to spot and groom talents in order to take up football as a career .
He said in addition to the discovery of football talents, the tournament was also aimed at bringing peace, unity and togetherness among the youths, as well as empowering the talented youngsters in the state.
Akpe also said that the bulk of the players in Bayelsa United Football Club that lifted Aiteo Cup were the products of the Governor’s Cup, saying the organisers of the tournament would continue to bring out talents in football.
He disclosed that the preliminary stage of the tournament will start on April 10th with the kick-off by the Deputy Governor at the newly remodled Sampson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, while there will be two centres in each of the eight local government areas of the state.
Akpe added that the tournament will be limited to U21 players and solicited for the support of well placed individuals and corporate organisations for a successful competition.
In their goodwill messages, Chairman, Bayelsa FA, Mr Porbeni Ogun, commended the initiative, and appealed to state authorities to construct mini stadia across the senatorial districts, to boost quality football, while the Chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Bayelsa chapter, Fred Alambo Datonye, said sports journalists would massively publicise the tournament, for the benefit of Bayelsans.
Also present at the event was the Permanent Secretary, Bayelsa Ministry of Sports Mrs Grace Alagoa ; Director of Sports, Sir Braveman Wodi; Director, Finance and Admin of the Bayelsa State Governor’s Cup, Amadu Owei as well as Job Makka, Tournament Administrator.
High point of the event was the official presentation of the trophy by the Director General, Mr Akpe, to Hon Igali, the Youth and Sports Development Commissioner.