Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri has restated the call for multinational oil companies and other corporate organizations operating in the state to complement the efforts of government in the area of sports development.
The governor gave the charge while speaking during the presentation of branded jersey to him by members of the Central Organizing Committee (COC) of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, also known as the Prosperity Cup.
Gov. Diri also kick-started the process of conducting the official draws for the tournament.
In addition, he performed the ceremonial distribution of kits, comprising jerseys for players and coaches, as well as footballs to three teams participating in the tournament, namely, Afini Ladies of Amarata, Agbere FC of Agbere community and one of the para-soccer teams.
Gov. Diri, who expressed delight at how the tournament has grown from a modest competition in 2015 to becoming Nigeria’s biggest grassroots competition with as many as 228 teams participating in the male category alone, commended organisers of the tournament for the great job they are doing.
He said government alone cannot develop sports and called on oil companies, other corporate organizations and well-meaning Bayelsans to support the tournament, maintaining that sports remains a vital tool to curb youth restiveness.
The governor added that the development of sports in any nation was incomplete without grassroots sports development, pointing out that his administration remains committed to youth engagement and empowerment through sports.
He commended the organizers of the tournament for putting together a refresher course for referees, urging the umpires to be upright in the discharge of their duties during the competition.
Read also:
- Academy empowers 150 young women entrepreneurs in Kano
- Southern Kaduna Journalists hail Tinubu for appointing Gen. Musa as Defence Minister
- Kano cracks down as KAROTA seizes nearly 5,000 bottles of beer in night operation
He equally appreciated lead sponsors of the tournament, Premium Trust Bank, Linkage Assurance, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), and the board of internal revenue for their support.
Meanwhile, the draws conducted saw Canaan FC up against Sangana FC at the Okpoama centre in Brass Local Government Area, Ibidi FC will welcome Igoni FC of Igoni, and Tough Dynamites will entertain Egweama FC as Amaogbo FC confronts Formosa FC.
Also, Fantua FC will battle Okoroba FC at the Opu-Nembe centre, Young Ranger FC will take on Mangrove Ace FC, while Okoroma United are drawn by.
Genesis FC will keep a date with Victory FC, MC FC will lock horns with Nembe City, while Fisherman Sons FC are on stand-bye.
The Kolo centre in Ogbia Local Government Area will see Abagi FC Tango Diocese of Ogbia, Movers FC of Otuasega battles Emeyal 2 FC, Ewoi FC of Ewoi will face neighbours Onuebum FC, as Bayelsa State College of Health Technology BYCOTECH FC faces Chief Street FC.
