By John Odhe
An elated Governor of Bayelsa state, Senator Douye Diri has splashed N10 million on winners of different categories at the just concluded finals of the Governor’s Cup otherwise called Prosperity Cup at the Sapson Siasia Sports Stadium in the state capital on Tuesday.
The final match between Odioma community of Brass Local Government Area and Eternal Grace Ministry of Yenagoa ended 2-1 in favour of the latter, which took the winners N5m prize money while Odioma got N2.5m.
Agbere community in Sagbama local government area, which won the third place match against Anyama-Ogbia community in Ogbia LGA by three goals to two got N1m while their opponents received N500,000, while a million naira would be spent on the likes of the three highest goal scorers of the tournament, who scored nine goals each, the most valuable player, best goalkeeper and others.
Delivering a speech to mark the grand finale of the 2022 edition of the grassroots football tournament, Diri explained that his administration prioritised sports development because it is an investment in youths of the state and a good avenue to discover and utilise their talents.
Governor Diri also said that sports promote the government’s agenda of fostering peace and unity.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, quoted him as saying that his administration’s investment in sports was yielding good results in the performance of the state’s athletes in national competitions in the last two years.
He noted that apart from the state’s football and basketball teams recording remarkable feats in national competitions in recent times, the Prosperity Cup with 206 participating teams is recognised as the largest grassroots football competition in Nigeria.
He also recounted that the Governor Douye Diri National Scrabble Championship, which second edition ended on Sunday in Yenagoa, is the biggest scrabble competition in the country at the moment.
He stated that through the football tournament, many talents were discovered by scouts that came from outside the country.
He added that the state’s football club, Bayelsa United, will also be a beneficiary of the tournament.
Governor Diri appreciated his predecessors for the annual competition, saying his government had to embrace and sustain the lofty idea.
The governor, who commended the organisers, said the standard displayed by the two teams in the final game was very high and could be compared to any final match in the world.
The state’s helmsman charged youths in the state to focus on discovering their talent and that they had no business with illicit drug activities or consumption.
His words: “We believe that this is the best way to engage our youths. Through this tournament, a lot of talents will be discovered. Scouts have been here and I believe Bayelsa United will be the most benefiting club from the tournament.
“I congratulate all the participating teams. As you know, sports and in particular football is a unifier. This tournament has brought together 206 teams across our state. It is the largest grassroots football tournament in this country.
“It has also fostered peace and unity in our state. So, let me appreciate the founding fathers that introduced this governor’s football tournament.
“This is a government of prosperity and those of you that have the skill, I am sure this tournament has exposed you to a brighter future. So try to discover where your talent is. You have no business with illegal drug activities, consumption and the attitudes that some youths exhibit. This is the right attitude to exhibit and you are very sure your government will support you.”
The governor expressed the optimism that the state will become the centre of sports and sports events in Nigeria. He restated his call on individuals and companies operating in the state, particularly the oil producing companies, to take a cue from what the government was doing by investing in sports and the youths.
Coordinator of the tournament, Mr. Onoriode Akpe, while speaking to newsmen, thanked governor Diri for sustaining the event, noting that the 2022 edition recorded tremendous successes.
“For the first time we brought in two sets of foreign scouts from Australia, France, South Africa and from Eastern Europe and they have selected players that are going to Europe in the next few weeks to ply their trade and that is the most exciting part of this tournament. Just as His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri has said, Bayelsa United will be the most benefiting club from the tournament,” Akpe added.
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