July 21, (THEWILL) – Ogboinbiri FC of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area have emerged champions of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football spectacle, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, aka Prosperity Cup.
The oil-rich Ogboinbiri side humbled Nembe City 3-0 to emerge winners of the sixth edition of the tournament at the Samson Siasia Stadium.
Daniel Bekewei put the Ogboinbiri side ahead in the 22nd minute from Bekewei Iladei’s beautiful cross as he dribbled past Nembe City’s defence line to open the scoring. Iladei doubled Ogboinbiri’s lead in the 29th minute following a defensive blunder by the Nembe side as he sent Ogboinbiri fans into a rapturous celebration.
Iladei, in the second half of the match, added a third with a solo effort, cementing the Southern Ijaw side’s victory.
Earlier in the women’s final, Niger Delta University Queens beat high-scoring Peremo Soccer Academy 1-0 to lift the women’s trophy. Osiga Gloria’s goal 2 minutes into the game gave the Amassoma side the victory.
Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, in his remarks, said since his appointment as Sports Minister, Governor Douye Diri remains one of the governors in Nigeria who have continued to give premium attention to the Sports Ministry, saying that he rescheduled his trip to Germany just to be in Yenagoa for the finals.
Enoh noted that the Prosperity Cup resonates with the policies and programme of the Ministry of Sports Development of taking grassroots sports to another level, describing the grassroots as the future of Nigerian sports.
He commended the Governor for sustaining the tournament, urging the next administration to continue with the competition that has become a launch pad for the development of youths in the state, maintaining that he was impressed with the quality of football exhibited by the players.
Governor Diri, in an address, noted that his administration would continue to create an enabling environment for sports to thrive, describing sports as a huge investment, and called on the youths in the state to be focused and not be distracted.
According to him, the crime rate in the state has reduced drastically as a result of the tournament and has continued to be the vehicle that has engaged the youths positively, stressing that he was pleased with the progress of the tournament after six editions.
The state’s helmsman noted that the introduction of the women’s tournament would help to consolidate the achievements recorded by Bayelsa Queens, saying that the prize money of the women’s tournament would improve in the next edition to further encourage women’s football.
While congratulating both winners and all the participating teams for the show of dexterity throughout the game, the Governor commended the tournament organisers for their thoroughness and commitment throughout the competition.
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, also praised the Bayelsa State Governor for his “outstanding contributions” to the growth of grassroots football in Nigeria.
Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr, Daniel Igali, in his welcome address, appreciated the Governor for ensuring that the tournament gets to the sixth edition, explaining that the competition, in the last few years, has engaged over ten thousand youths across the state.
Director General of the tournament, Mr Ono Akpe, in an interview, asserted that he was elated with the massive turnout of fans, adding that the 2024 edition has impacted referees and coaches positively.
Champions Ogboinbiri FC smiled home with a sum of N5 million, runner-up Nembe City got N25 million, third place Bayelsa United Feeders received N1.5 million, 3rd runner-up Kongho FC got N1 million naira, while quarter-finalists were rewarded with N250,000 each.
The women’s champions, NDU Queens, received N1 million, second place Peremo Soccer Academy got N750,000, third place Afini Ladies went home with N350,000, while quarter-finalists received N100,000 each.
Para Soccer champions, Leave Am For Me FC, got N650,000, while second place Hon Igali FC received N350,000, amounting to a total of N50 million.
Ogboinbiri FC goalkeeper, Nigeria Godgift, won the ‘Best Player of the Tournament’, Bekewei lladei emerged as the top scorer of the tournament with seven goals as well as the ‘Most Valuable Player’ of the competition while Anderson Blessing of NDU Queens was crowned with the golden shoe winner of the tournament.
Dignitaries present were Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, represented by the Chairman, Edo Sports Commission, Hon. Yussuf Alli; Managing Director, Premium Trust Bank, Mr. Emmanuel Emefienim; members of the State House of Assembly, members of the State Executive Council, former senators, and permanent secretaries among others.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
