………As Diri To Declare Tournament Closed OnTuesday.
The boys have been separated from the men in the ongoing Bayelsa State Governor’s Cup tagged “the Prosperity Cup” after 3 months of football activities in 20 centres across the eight local government areas of the state.
In the semi final fixture decided on Friday at the Samson Siasia Stadium Yenagoa, Eternal Grace Ministry EGM Fc of Yenagoa humbled Agbere Fc of Sagbama 3-0.
Goals from Valentine Hamilton on 38th minute, Noble Junior on 85th minute and Godknows Eme on the dot of ninety minutes gave EGM Fc comfortable 3-0 victory of Agbere Fc to book a place in the final alongside the seasiders Odioma Fc of Brass.
Odioma Fc in the second Semi final produced a composed performance against their eastern opponents Anyama Fc of Ogbia.
The seasiders started the game like a team that was desirous of winning the game by mounting pressure on Anyama Fc who should thank their goalkeeper Darlington Donatus who made crucial saves that would have resulted to goals.
However the Brass side drew first blood in the 27th minute from Obede Mondiarif’s fine finish to the admiration of the capacity crowd that thronged the stadium.
The celebration had hardly died down when Odioma Fc added another goal in a space of 47 seconds from a sublime goal from Victor Wilfred as the Odioma Fc fans went into a bout of ecstatic jubilation, singing and dancing in their local dialect.
Obede Mondiarif on 40th minute mesmerized a disorganized and uncoordinated defence line to compound their woes with a brace to settle the score-line at halftime 3-0.
Apparently not satisfied with the scoreline of the game Anyama Fc coach Ebisouodo Appah made few changes that brought life to the game as Vincent Azipapu pulled one back for Anyama Fc in the 50th minute.
However Anyama Fc had another opportunity to make it 3-2 but was fired wide by Midfielder Gift Agala.
Odioma Fc will now face EGM Fc of Yenagoa by 4pm on Tuesday 19th of July in the final of the Nigeria’s biggest grassroots showpiece, while Anyama Fc of Ogbia will square off with Agbere Fc in the losers final by 1pm.
Both coaches of Anyama Fc and Odioma Fc in a post match interview said the tournament has provided a platform to project their various communities positively.
Odioma Fc coach Karika Hanson commended his lads for taking their chances in the first half, saying that the tactics worked out well for him by winning in the first half.
Anyama Fc coach Ebisouodo Appah said the opponent deserve the victory because they played better than his team, but noted that his attention has now been shifted to the losers final.
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Douye Mr Daniel Alabrah who hailed the quality of players and standard of the competition noted that the prosperity cup would soon produce players who would feature in the various national teams in Nigeria.
While commending the organizers for raising the standard of the competition, Mr Alabrah lauded the governor for giving premium attention to sports development in the state.
Also, the member representing Brass constituency two in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly Hon, Timi Omubo-Agala noted that with the performance of the Odioma side, he was upbeat that the Brass side will win the trophy, stresing that they will mobilize fans from Brass LGA to Yenagoa to witness the final.
In attendance were, top government functionaries, coaches, football enthusiasts and other dignitaries from across the state including the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Hon Esau Andrew, former Commissioner for Environment Chief Robert Enogha.
Others are Hon Prince Awudumapu Isiki Governors’ representative Ogbia, Zonal Vice President Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria YFSON Mr Kali Gwegwe, veteran sports journalist Ebi Avi amongst other stakeholders.
The tournament would be declared closed by the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri on Tuesday 19th July 2022 by 4pm.
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