By Caleb Tamunosaki
Management of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Championship has said that the tournament wood kick off in April 10, 2022.
The organizers said on Tuesday that the tournament would target youths below the age 20 with prospects in football career at the end of this year’s tournament.
The tournament, whose first edition was played in 2015, is has the objective of developing and discovering talented community youths for export.
Director-General of Bayelsa Governor’s Cup, Ono Akpe, spoke this while announcing the schedule of activities for the football competition tagged ‘Prosperity Cup 2022 in Yenagoa.
Akpe said the presentation of kits/draws for the 12-week competition will take place on April 5 while the official kick-off will be performed five days after by the State Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Yenagoa.
According to him, the final match of the tournament would be played on May 29.
“This year, we would bring to Bayelsa, teams of FIFA agents and various youth academies from across the country who would select our talented youths for a promising career in football locally and internationally.
“No player that has played in any state, national or international competition is eligible to take part in the tournament. Indeed, we want to ensure our youths prosper through football contracts in this year’s edition. We shall, however, look for players from 20 years of age and below for selection.”
He thanked Gov Diri and the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Daniel Igali for their support.
The D-G noted that the tournament had produced good footballers who are plying their trade within and outside Nigeria.
“Despite the hurdles, a lot has been achieved with this competition. AITEO cup winner, Okardi Inikorogha, now in France, won the first edition with his team, Ewoama FC of Brass, where he also emerged as the MVP of that edition.
“Lots of players have been scouted from this competition and now play in different clubs all over the country. In our own Bayelsa United, about seven players are currently there with the team”.
In his remarks, the Sports Commissioner, Igali said that Diri was passionate about the Governor’s Cup and urged all stakeholders, particularly from the private sector, to support the football competition to continually make impact.
Igali, who is also the President of Nigerian Wrestling Federation, said he would be personally involved in the entire tournament “because I have been briefed about the number of athletes that have benefited from this and gone abroad as a result of this, and those with potentials will do same.”
