Bayelsa State All Stars International Football Club has been urged to complement government’s efforts at developing grassroots sports by replicating itself in all the local government areas and major towns in the state.
The state Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the charge at the weekend, when the leadership of the Club paid him a courtesy call in Government House, Yenagoa.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who acknowledged the contributions of the Club since its establishment, noted that more could be achieved in the development of the round leather game by motivating young, upcoming talents to take keener interest in football.
He said formation and maintenance of functional All Stars clubs in the local government headquarters and other large communities across Bayelsa, was a veritable means to sustaining the state’s current achievements in the game of football.
This, according to the Deputy Governor, would not only serve as a source of motivation to the young ones but also dissuade them from social vices.
On the Club’s request to have access to the main pitch of the Samson Siasia Stadium for their weekend training sessions, Senator Ewhrudjakpo promised to confer with Governor Douye Diri for permission as the facility is the only one being used by the two state-owned professional teams.
He, however, expressed government’s readiness to partner the All Stars International Football Club in their effort to build a permanent training pitch and a befitting Club House within the state capital, as obtainable elsewhere in the country.
The Deputy Governor, who also expressed hope that one of the state’s teams would gain promotion to the elite division of the Nigerian Professional League, said government would continue to support the development of football in Bayelsa.
His words, “We believe that the contribution of All Stars to the development of football is key because it serves as a “sucker” that “sucks’ in the younger ones. When they see people who are well-to-do playing football, it encourages them to see life (career) in football.
“We want to see how you cascade into the various LGAs – we want All Stars in places like Sagbama, Ekeremor and all the other LGA headquarters and big towns like Amassoma, Ofoni, Peretoru, Aleibiri and others.
“You need to spread to the grassroots because the role models our youths follow now are mainly people of so much negativity.
“We are interested in football and we are doing very well in football. Our male team will gain promotion to the elite division of the Nigerian professional football league at the end of this season.
“While our girls, the Bayelsa Queens, are doing very well, having qualified for the quarter finals in the ongoing Aiteo Cup.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the All Stars International Football Club, Bayelsa Chapter, Dr. Peter Singabele, gave accolades to the State Government for its unprecedented support to the state football teams.
Dr. Singabele who decried the present deplorable state of the local pitches for their weekly training mainly due to the rains, appealed to government for an approval for the All Stars to use the Samson Siasia Stadium every Saturday for their training.
Highpoint of the visit was the presentation of a set of jersey to the Deputy Governor by the Chairman of the All Stars International Football Club, Mr Ebimieowei Tulagha.
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