..As Bayelsa State Government Signs FC Barcelona MoU
Okoroma United of Okoroma from Nembe Local Government Area and debutants, Active Ladies of Agudama have emerged the men and women’s champions of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football fiesta, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, tagged the Prosperity Cup.
Okoroma United pipped hard-fighting Akinima/Biogbo one nil to win a historic tournament. Erasmus Noble on 18 minutes gave the Nembe side the deserved victory in an encounter decided at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.
Active Ladies in the women’s category beat defending champions, Afini Ladies of Amarata by a lone goal courtesy of Ughwumioma Charity’s 32nd minute strike to ensure that they go home with the trophy and prize money.
Champions, Okoroma United received ₦30,000,000 for their effort, second placed Akinima/Biogbo went home with ₦10,000,000, Mountain of the Lord Deliverance Ministry, MLDM FC who finished third got ₦5,000,000 while 4th placed Krosaders FC smiled home with the sum of ₦2,000,000.
Women’s champions, Active Ladies were rewarded with the sum of ₦10,000,000 for their effort, second position received ₦5,000,000, third placed team got ₦2,000,000 while the 4th placed got ₦1,000,000, along with other consolation prizes.
Para-Soccer champions, Shadrack Sports Academy got ₦1.5 million naira for their triumph, with the total prize money amounting to ₦80,000,000.
The final also witnessed an historic signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU for the setting up of the FC Barcelona-affiliated Bayelsa Starlets Academy.
Declaring the tournament closed, an elated Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, said he was pleased with the continuous growth of the tournament, maintaining that his administration has used the Prosperity Cup to empower the youths of the State.
The governor, who described sports as a global event, remarked that the competition was one of the programmes he inherited from his predecessor and invested hugely in it to empower the youths, pointing out that beyond politics, football has become a means of livelihood.
He acknowledged that the introduction of the women’s category improved the quality of football in the competition, stressing that the continuous increase in the number of clubs participating in the showpiece reflects the growth of the tournament.
The State helmsman noted that he wants to see the government disengaging completely from football and indeed all sports, pointing out that the essence why only football could thrive in the country was because of the private sector involvement.
While commending the organizers of the tournament for the smooth organization of the competition, the governor asserted that he was elated with the increase in sponsors yearly in the competition and that he hoped to see the tournament standing independently without government involvement.
Managing Director/CEO, Premium Trust Bank, Dr. Emmanuel Efe Emefienim represented by the Chief Operating Officer, South South, Dr. Aniebet Offiong, said beyond the delivery of premium services to customers, the institution is poised for the development of sports.
Also, former President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Mr. Amaju Pinnick commended the governor’s intentionality in the development of sports, pointing out that the total display of talents in the final was unprecedented.
Earlier in an address of welcome, a completely fulfilled Director General of the tournament, Mr. Ono Akpe, opined that this year’s edition was unique as a result of the competition’s international identity, stating that the signing of the MoU reflects the state government’s commitment to bettering the lot of the youths.
He lauded the sponsors, Premium Trust Bank, Linkage Assurance Nig Ltd, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Nigeria Customs Service, Binad Table Water, Agco Engineering and the Bayelsa State Board of Internal Revenue for the unwavering support to the tournament.
Shortly after signing the MoU, Technical Director, Bernat Villa Gorriz, said they are elated to be part of the historic event.
Okoroma United coach, Ebinimi Festus and Akinima/Biogbo gaffer, Ibomotimi Fyneface in separate post-match interviews, affirmed the huge improvement in this year’s tournament.
