Winners of season eight of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, tagged the Prosperity Cup, have received cheques after their triumph in the competition.
The presentation ceremony was done immediately after the weekly Prosperity Walk at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, with officials of Premium Trust Bank, the tournament’s lead sponsors, present at the event.
Key Highlights:
- Winners of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament received prize money after the competition.
- Douye Diri highlighted the importance of grassroots sports development.
- Premium Trust Bank pledged continued support for sports and youth development.
- Five players from the tournament earned invitations to Nigeria’s U-20 and U-23 national teams.
- Okoroma United won ₦40 million as tournament champions.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, who stressed the need for grassroots sports development, said there cannot be any progress in sports without the input from the grassroots, maintaining that the Prosperity Cup has brought to the fore, the importance of grassroots football.
Gov. Diri, who was represented at the occasion by the Deputy Governor, Peter Akpe, urged coaches in the state to embark on grassroots talent hunt programmes in order to discover budding talents that would replace aging athletes across different sports, describing grassroots as the bedrock of sports in every society.
According to him, plans are underway to host the second edition of the state sports festival, stating that local government area sports festival is aimed at spotting hidden talents in the rural areas.
While commending the organizers of the Prosperity Cup for their steadfastness and commitment, the governor appreciated Premium Trust Bank for its premium investment in the development of sports in the state.
Managing Director of Premium Trust Bank, Emmanuel Emefienim, who was represented by the Regional Head of Premium Trust Bank, Mr. Danjuma Omeje, noted that this year’s edition of the tournament was special to the financial institution because it coincides with the bank’s fourth year anniversary.
He hinted that during the anniversary, the bank made about N177 billion profit before tax for the first time in the history of any financial institution in the country.
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Omeje assured Bayelsans that the bank will continue to give maximum attention to the development of sports in the state, stating that the institution is desirous to give the youths better opportunities through sports.
A visibly elated Director General of the tournament, Mr. Ono Akpe, earlier in an address of welcome, informed the Bayelsa State government that five players from the just-concluded edition have been invited by the Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr Austine Eguavoen, to join the U-20 national football team.
He explained that the players would leave Yenagoa for Abuja, on Sunday, May 24, 2026, adding that four of the players will be featured in the U-20 team, while one will play in the U-23 national team.
Mr Akpe further explained that the Nigeria Nationwide League One, has given the Prosperity Cup champions and the Prosperity Cup selected team a slot to participate in the tournament slated to commence next month, with Yenagoa being picked as a centre.
Champions Okoroma United got ₦40,000,000, second placed Akinima/Biogbo went home with ₦13,000,000, Mountain of the Lord Deliverance Ministry, MLDM FC who finished third received ₦7,000,000, while 4th placed Krosaders FC smiled home with the sum of ₦2,000,000.
Women’s champions, Active Ladies were rewarded with the sum of ₦10,000,000 for their effort, second position received ₦5,000,000, third placed team got ₦2,000,000, while the 4th placed team got ₦1,000,000, along with other consolation prizes.
