August 11, (THEWILL) – In less than forty-eight hours, all six visiting teams will be in Yenagoa. The Bayelsa State capital will be the cynosure of all eyes, as the maiden edition of the Governor Douye Diri Pre-season Football Tournament kicks off.
Six Nigeria premier league teams, Abia Warriors of Umuahia, Akwa United of Uyo, Bendel Insurance of Benin, Kwara United of Ilorin, Sunshine Stars of Akure, and Rivers United of Port Hacourt, to be joined by Bayelsa United and Krusaders, will line up for the pre-season competition, the first to be staged in Yenagoa..
A statement by the Chairman of the Tournament, Mr Ono Akpe, said the Youth Development Commissioner, Hon. Alfred Kemepade, will be the Special Guest of Honour and will perform the ceremonial kick off, while former Youth and Sports Development Commissioner and current Chairman of the Bayelsa State Civil Service Commission, Hon. Perekiye Buruboyefe, will be the Chairman, with Mayor of Yenagoa City Local Government Area, Hon Boloudiseye Ndiwari, and one-time Kolokuma Opokuma Council Chairman, Hon Ebikitin Diongoli, as Guests of Honour.
Mr Ono Akpe said the draws will take place by 7pm on Sunday, while games will commence by 8am on Monday, at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa.
Mr Akpe disclosed that the winner of the Pre-season football tournament will go home with the sum of N1.5m, N1m for second place, and N500,000 for third position.
Mr Akpe also expressed his appreciation for Governor Douye Diri and his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, for their pragmatic efforts in making the state one of the sporting hubs in the country.
He equally urged Bayelsans to turn out en masse to support the two Bayelsa teams participating in the Pre-season tournament.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
