The Prosperity Government of Bayelas has been making huge investments in sports development. These investments have yielded good measures in the last three years. The gains are manifesting in the youth population. Accordingly, many of the youth can take the opportunities in sports for their good.
Three big sporting actions took centre stage in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, in one month. They hosted events associated with Scrabble, football and wrestling championship.
The experts believe Bayelsa is now, unarguably, the mecca of sports in Nigeria. The fans are also agreeing with this conclusion. A few days after Governor Diri’s 2nd National Scrabble championship, the final of Africa’s largest grass roots football, Prosperity Football Cup produced Crusaders Feeders Club as champions. For the first time, the football competition featured 214 clubs across the eight LGAs.
From a humble start with the maiden edition of the grassroots football meets in 2015 as Restoration Cup, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football tournament has become a place of discovery and talent hunting. Further, This football competition brings unity, togetherness and passion for young people to become prosperous.
The investment in the competition is very visible, and the gains are immeasurable with the discovery of great talents doing exploits. Some shining products of the Prosperity Cup are making a great impact with the round leather game. Proudly, Victory Beniangba was discovered from the competition, then signed up for Bayelsa United and became the Aiteo Federation Cup winner with the Bayelsa side. Today, he is plying his trade in Belgium.
Okardi Inikurogha, also a product of the tournament and later joined Bayelsa United, is currently with a French side, Grenoble Foot 38 FC. Names like Gabriel Biriduba, Bayelsa United captain, Emo James of Bayelsa United and Robert Mizo, second highest goal scorer in the just concluded Nigeria Premier Football League season, are stars discovered from the grassroots football competition.
A week after the football championship that attracted top Nigerian football administrators, including the NNF President, Ibrahim Gusau, the 2nd Gov Diri National Wrestling Classic took centre stage in Yenagoa, where top Nigerian wrestlers converged.
The four days tournament sponsored by Governor Douye Diri lived up to its billing with so much excitement at the indoor hall of the Samson Siasia Stadium. Champion Daniel Igali, Olympic gold medalist and current Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Bayelsa State, who doubles as the President, Nigerian Wrestling Federation, said the investments in sports were deliberate in creating opportunities for the young people.
According to him, Governor Diri and his prosperity government, is making real impact in sports development to bring prosperity to young Bayelsans.
