ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE , Yenagoa
Bayelsa State-owned soccer teams – Bayelsa United and Bayelsa Queens will soon have the luxury of playing at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, when the second round of the Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) and the Nigeria National League (NNL) commences, it has been learnt.
It was further learnt that Bayelsa United and Bayelsa Queens had been using the Nembe City Stadium to prepare for the new NNL season while the Prosperity Girls played all the first round of the NWFL matches in Nembe following the work at the stadium.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Daniel Igali and contractor handing the rehabilitation work, Taiwo Babalola, shed light on the development with reporters on Saturday.
They told reporters that the facility would be ready for both sides to play their home games soon.
Igali specifically noted that rehabilitation was carried out as a result of the soggy nature of the pitch whenever there was downpour, stating that it was only necessary for an elevation of the turf in order to address the waterlog and the drainage problem in the stadium.
He assured supporters of Bayelsa United and Bayelsa Queens of playing at home when the second tier league commences this month as proposed by the league’s hierarchy.
He explained that a new grass would be used to replace the previous turf following the renovation at the stadium.
He added that the replacement became imperative due to quality of work at the Stadium.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of the construction company, Taiwo Babalola, asserted that once the rehabilitation work was completed, the waterlog issues would be a thing of the past.
He noted that no matter the downpour, sporting activities would not be interrupted.
Babalola remarked that the elevation was above 20 centimetres, which according to him, was more than the original stone base earlier agreed.
With the casting of the stone base completed, the contractor expressed optimism that in no distant time the job would be completed and the facility put to use.
He thanked the Bayelsa State government for giving him the enabling environment to work since he took over the job.