David Owei,Bayrlsa
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‎The Director of the City Boy Movement in Bayelsa State, High Chief Osomkime Blankson, has called on parents and guardians to encourage their wards to balance sports with education.
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‎Blankson gave the charge during the semi-finals of the Bayelsa Starlets Academy U-15 Scouting Tournament, organized by the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports Development and the Grassroots Football Coaches Association.
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‎He expressed satisfaction with the quality of football on display, particularly the expertly taken spot kicks by the young players. He also urged parents to preach the importance of both sports and academics to their children.
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‎High Chief Blankson, who is also one of the major sponsors of the tournament, noted that if children are not positively engaged in sports and education now, they risk finding the wrong things to do with their time.
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‎Meanwhile, Donbai United and FC Afini have qualified for the final of the Bayelsa Starlets Academy U-15 Scouting tournament.
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‎After two weeks of grueling and scintillating football amongst 18 football academies in Yenagoa,
‎Donbai United beat Kings Warriors FA 7-6 on penalties after a one-all draw in regulation time, while FC Afini defeated Dominion City 5-4 on penalties having played out a two-all draw at normal time in the second semi final match.
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‎The final of the tournament comes up by 1:00pm on Wednesday, 29th July, 2026 at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.
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‎The scouting programme is aimed at discovering talents within the age grade of 15 that would be integrated into the Bayelsa Starlets Academy which is affiliated to the FC Barcelona Academy

‎By David Owei
‎The Bayelsa United/Prosperity Cup Pre-season Tournament has continued to showcase top grassroots football talent in the state, as the Interim Board of Bayelsa United intensifies its rebuilding process to return the club to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL.
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‎The tournament is designed to discover homegrown players who will be drafted into Bayelsa United.
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‎Participants include the 2026 Prosperity Cup quarter-finalists, a few Yenagoa-based teams, and Ereme Jackson FC of Port Harcourt.
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‎After days of eye-catching matches among the 12 participating teams, the semi-finalists have emerged. They are Bayelsa Starlets, Bayelsa United Feeders, Krosaders FC, and Ereme Jackson FC.
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‎In the semi-final fixtures slated for Monday, Krosaders FC of Peretorugbene will face Ereme Jackson FC of Port Harcourt in the first game at 1:00pm, while Bayelsa Starlets will take on Bayelsa United Feeders in the second semi-final at 3:00pm.
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‎Both matches will take place at the Samson Siasia stadium, Yenagoa.
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‎Speaking on the progress so far, the Chairman of the Interim Management Board of Bayelsa United Football Club, Dr. Peter F. Singabele*, said: 
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‎”This tournament is the foundation of our rebuilding agenda. We are committed to scouting and nurturing Bayelsa talents who can compete at the highest level and restore Bayelsa United to its rightful place in the NPFL. The quality we have seen here gives us confidence that the future is bright.”

By David Owei,Bayelsa

Top scrabble players across Nigeria and the West Africa sub-region are warming up for the sixth edition of the Governor Douye Diri National Scrabble Classic.

The World English Scrabble Players Association (WESPA) and Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA)-sanctioned tournament, which is the biggest in the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) calendar, is scheduled for August 1 and 2, 2026 in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

The first day of the event will hold at the Matho Crystal Hotel, Imiringi Road, Yenagoa while the final games and closing ceremonies will take place at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa.

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, who is the Special Guest of Honour, is expected to grace the ceremony alongside members of the state executive council.

Chairman of the Bayelsa State Scrabble Association (BYSA), Mr. Daniel Alabrah, disclosed in a statement that an impressed Governor Diri graciously increased the prize money to about N20 million for the five categories after the successful hosting of the fifth edition last year.

The star prize for the winner of the Master’s category has also been raised to N2 million from N1 million in 2025.

Alabrah said the governor’s sustained sponsorship of the tournament in the past five years has expanded awareness about the board game as well as boosted interest among youths in the state and across Nigeria.

The BYSA chairman praised Governor Diri for supporting and encouraging other sports apart from football, wrestling, swimming or boxing that the state had a strong comparative advantage.

The NSF President, Engr. Bright Idahosa, equally commended the Bayelsa helmsman for being a strong pillar of the federation.

Idahosa described the Governor Diri Classic as the tournament that all the top Nigerian scrabble players in the country and in the diaspora look forward to every year.

“As a federation, we appreciate His Excellency Governor Douye Diri for hosting this tournament annually. It is the biggest championship in our calendar and every top player in our country wants to be a part of it.

“Besides, another attraction is the peace of Bayelsa and the hospitality of the people. For many of us, Bayelsa has become a second home,” Idahosa stated.

No fewer than 300 scrabble players are expected to participate in this edition.