July 18, (THEWILL) – The boys have indeed been separated from the men as there are only four teams standing out of the record 214 sides that registered for the 2023 Bayelsa Governor’s Cup.
Also known as the “Prosperity Cup”, this weekend, the semi-finals of the competition will be held as the tournament enters the home stretch.
The Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa is expected to buzz again on Saturday and Sunday with football fireworks as the last four teams battle to grab the N5 million prize for the Champions in the competition, which has a total prize sum of N11 Million.
On Saturday, the first semi-final will kick off at 3pm with De Grace FC of Yenagoa locking horns with Dream Boys Academy FC of Odi, who are from Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area.
On Sunday, also at 3pm, Agbere FC of Sagbama Tango will lock horns with Crusaders Feeders FC of Peretoru, Ekeremor LGA.
The teams will be battling to qualify for the Final scheduled to hold on Sunday, 29 July, 2023
To reach the last four stage of the tournament, the surviving four teams faced stiff challenges from four others, who were knocked out as that phase proved too tough with small margins of victories compared to previous rounds when the floodgates of goals opened generously.
In the games, Agbere FC of Sagbama pipped Ayisco FC of Ogboinbiri, Southern Ijaw LGA 5-4 on the lottery of penalties after both sides battled to a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
The story was no different when Dream Boys Academy of Odi edged past Dreams Academy School of Yenagoa in a pulsating 7-6 penalty shootout with the two teams settling for a barren draw in full time.
De Grace FC of Yenagoa also managed a 2-1 triumph over 2022 finalists, Odioma FC of Brass in a game played in heavy rain and characterised by disruptive behaviour from supporters of the Oceania side that eventually led to their disqualification.
Similarly, Ekeremor outfit, Crusaders FC of Peretorugbene, did not mind the heavy downpour when they got the better of Bayelsa United Feeders of Yenagoa 2-1 in the last quarter-final encounter on Monday.
Meantime, some key actors and spectators have given plaudits to the organisers and officials of the Prosperity Cup for maintaining a high level of discipline and insisting that the rules of the competition be maintained.
In an interview with our correspondent at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, they hailed the central organising, disciplinary, appeals, technical and other committees for upholding high professional standards in handling issues that have threatened the smooth organisation of the tournament.
They commended the organisers for disqualifying Shegbelite FC of Yenagoa, who had fielded an ineligible player in their Round of 16 clash with Bayelsa United Feeders in Biabi Inspector, a player who had featured for Divine Warriors FC in the second tier Nigeria National League, NNL in 2012/2013.
Rather than accept the decisions of the Disciplinary and Appeals Committee, Shegbelite resorted to arm-twisting tactics, blackmails, threats and forgery to force their way through, but the organisers deployed investigative methods and maintained their disqualification.
In the same vein, Odioma FC of Brass had thrown caution to the wind in their Quarter Final game with De Grace FC of Yenagoa, vehemently protesting the second goal against them, insisting that there was an infringement against their goalkeeper in the build-up to a corner kick awarded to their opponents.
Rather than explore peaceful means of protesting, some of their fans resorted to chasing the referee off the field, who had to be protected in the State box. They further punched other officials and threatened some of the technical officials, leaving the Central Organizing Committee with no choice but to disqualify them in line with the rules of the competition.
Director General of the Prosperity Cup, Ono Akpe, has maintained that the organisers will continue to uphold the integrity of the tournament by ensuring strict adherence and enforcement of the rules without fear or favour.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
