June 14, (THEWILL) – All is now set for the commencement of the inaugural local government finals of Nigeria’s largest grassroots football tournament, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament aka Prosperity Cup, at the Ekeremor Township Stadium, headquarters of Ekeremor Local Government Area.
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the competition announced the commencement in a statement on Thursday.
According to the LOC, winners will emerge at the various local government areas and will be presented with trophies and cash rewards, alongside invitational letters to the coaches of both teams ahead of the international coaching and scouting clinic.
The statement signed by the Director of the tournament, Mr. Perela Aboroson, said the Round of 32 of the Prosperity Cup will kick off after the conclusion of the local government finals.
The Prosperity Cup organisers said the move is in line with the Bayelsa Governor’s drive to ensure grassroots football is felt in all communities across the council areas, especially at the council headquarters, so as to attract outright participation and support from the communities to their darling teams, as well as promote integration, unity and togetherness.
It described Governor Douye Diri’s penchant for grassroots football development as second to none since the creation of Bayelsa State, which is evident in the proliferation of young talents across the state, and the frequent intrusion of local and foreign scouts to spot talents.
The statement said Ekeremor Council Chairman, Hon. Isaac Iniye, has put all necessary facilities in place to ensure an outstanding ceremony this Friday, June 14, at Ekeremor Town, and will be followed by Sagbama on Saturday, June 15, at Sagbama Main Town, while the finals in Brass will take place on Sunday, June 16, at Twon Brass.
According to the statement, on Monday, June 17, all attention will shift to Kaiama Town for the Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA finals, while Ogbia LGA will take its turn on Tuesday, June 18 at Ogbia Town, and Thursday, June 20 will be the turn of Nembe LGA to decide which team will emerge winner at the Nembe City Stadium.
Oporoma, the headquarters of Southern Ijaw LGA, comes alive on Friday, June 21, while Yenagoa LGA wraps it up on Saturday, June 22 at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The statement revealed that His Excellency, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, is expected to grace the finals of Ekeremor Council Area as the Special Guest of Honour, while the Speaker and all members of the House of Assembly, Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon Daniel Igali, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs will be the Guests of Honor.
Also invited are all political appointees, councillors, traditional rulers and council chieftains as Special Guests, as the Chief Host will be the Council Chairmen.
The Tournament Director concluded by enjoining Bayelsans to turn out en masse and cheer their teams to victory and also ensure memorable local government council finals across the state.
The Ekeremor LGA Finals will be between defending champions, Crusaders FC of Peretorugbene and Petroleum Boys FC of Ekeremor.
About the Author
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
