‎By David Owei,Bayelsa

‎Technical Adviser of Bayelsa Starlets Academy, Edema Fuludu says the team is finally getting its rhythm after one month of intensive and rigorous training exercise with the lads in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State, capital.
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‎Coach Fuludu gave the assessment shortly after the last friendly match against FC Silina at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa having defeated Hope Alive FC and Brazil FC earlier.
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‎He noted that he was pleased with the momentum of the lads within a short period of his taking over the team with unity and love among each other in the team, stating that he was satisfied with the rhythm of the side.
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‎According to him, the team is an assemblage of old players of the team and young players from the season 8 of the Prosperity Cup, where over two hundred players were selected during the tournament for screening exercise before it was trimmed to twenty five players that would fly the team colours.
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‎He explained that he is currently working on the team to get used to the philosophy that is modeled on them by taking possession, press high, and score goals, maintaining that is not an easy feat to achieve that the team needs to be physically fit to undertake such task.
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‎Coach Fuludu further explained that, the series of friendly matches played recently has improved the lads physically and technically, pointing out that the confidence and concentration level of the lads has drastically grown.
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‎Starlets hummered Hope Alive of Otuoke five nil, edge out Brazil FC by three goals to two before suffering slim one defeat against FC Silina, but despite the defeat, the former international, said he was not bothered about scorelines but he is concerned about quality of football and discipline in the team.
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‎He commended the lads for the show of determination and commitment throughout the process, urging them not to rest on their oars till they get to the pinnacle of their respective careers.
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‎”I am not concerned about results, I am concerned about the structure and the shape my boys are playing. If you see me in training I’m always pushing them in structural place in order for them to know what to do because insight is key, awareness is important in the field. So it is not all about grinding victory but it is good for the team to boost their ego”, Fuludu stated.
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‎”I am putting confidence in a lot of the boys, I have pushed them physically, and I have to push them more to improve their confidence level, get them the awareness, make all of them feel they are leaders because when they have leadership qualities they play as a team” Fuludu maintained.
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‎The management of the Nationwide League One recently confirmed Bayelsa Starlets Academy’s status to participate in the 2026 U-19 Youth League in a letter signed by the Chief Operating Officer of the league, Dr. Olushola Ogunnowo.
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‎It will be recalled that the Bayelsa Starlets Academy is an upgraded and expanded football team, founded in 2019 and participated in the African Youth Championship in Cape Verde where they finished third among international clubs, and later went on to win the Bayelsa State League in 2020.

By David Owei,Bayelsa
The Nationwide League One has confirmed that Bayelsa Starlets Academy will participate in the 2026 National League One (NLO) U-19 Youth League
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‎The confirmation, contained in a letter by the league body, and titled “Confirmation of Status of Bayelsa Starlets Football Academy (U-19 Youth League)”, was signed by the Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Olushola Ogunnowo.

According to the letter, the Bayelsa Starlets Academy, which is affiliated to FC Barcelona of Spain, Technical Advisers to the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, took over the slot of De-Gideon FC of Abuja.
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‎The letter further stated that the club, being an affiliate of the Bayelsa State Football Association, shall play all its home matches in Bayelsa State and operate in line with league statutes, except where the NLO Congress directs otherwise.

According to the letter dated Thursday, 21st of May, 2026, “The Nationwide League One Secretariat hereby confirms that the above-named Football Academy, affiliated to the Bayelsa State Football Association, will from the 2026 season, join the Nationwide League One, U-19 Youth League. The Academy took over the slot of De-Gideon FC of Abuja.

“The Nationwide League One Secretariat has received the details of the transaction between both parties and can confirm that De-Gideon has no known liabilities”.
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‎The letter advised the Academy to liaise with the Bayelsa State Football Association for further information regarding players’ registration and other documentation required for participation in the 2026 NLO season.
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‎Reacting to the development, the Chief Executive Officer of Bayelsa Startlets Academy and Director General of the Prosperity Cup, Mr Ono Akpe, said the news reflects the government’s commitment towards giving the youths in the State a better life through sports, maintaining that the NLO U-19 Youth League would open another chapter for young players in the State.
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‎According to him, screening for the Bayelsa Starlets Academy commenced immediately after the season 8 of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, under the supervision of a FIFA renowed instructor and Technical Adviser, Coach Edema Fuludu, ably assisted by Ebezener Atayero and other experienced coaches, pointing out that all the players in the academy are products of the just-concluded edition of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament tagged, the Prosperity Cup.
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‎He noted that he was pleased with the growing confidence of the players in the team, stating that the momentum in the team reflects the commitment and determination of the lads.
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‎Mr Akpe commended the governor, Senator Douye Diri, the deputy governor, Dr Peter Akpe the Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr Daniel Igali for investing in the youths through sports, stressing that the governor’s passion for sports development was the reason behind the tournament’s success story.

He also saluted the lead sponsors of the tournament Premium Trust Bank for their commitment to sports development saying ” the commitment and support of Premium Trust Bank to sports development is unprecedented and must be commended across the country. We salute the Chief Executive and Managing Director Dr Emmanuel Emefienim and the entire bank for thier faith in the youths of Bayelsa, the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole”
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‎It will be recalled that the Bayelsa Starlets Academy, founded in 2019, and now upgraded and expanded, participated in the African Youth Championship in Cape Verde where they finished third among international clubs, and later went on to win the Bayelsa State League in 2020.

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By David Owei

Former Nigeria international, Edema Fuludu has hailed the foresight of the Bayelsa State Government in establishing the FC Barcelona-affiliated Bayelsa Starlets Academy.
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‎Fuludu made this known during the Under-15 and Under-19 screening exercise to assemble players for the establishment of the Academy, whose Memorandum of Understanding, MoU was signed last week during the final of the season eight of the Prosperity Cup.
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‎He noted that the only way for grassroots players to excel was to create a platform for them to get better, maintaining that the establishment of the academy would be a breeding ground for the state-owned team, Bayelsa United and other cadet national teams in the country.

‎Fuludu, who described grassroots as the foundation of football in any society, said the Bayelsa Starlets Academy would reduce restiveness among youths in the State because the youths would be positively engaged with the academy.
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‎He expressed satisfaction with the turnout and the quality of players that showed up on day two of the exercise, pointing out that his team of coaches have identified an avalanche of talents during the exercise.
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‎According to him, “over a hundred players took part in day two of the screening compared to day one that had seventy players comprising both U-15 and U-19 players”.
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‎He explained that 39 players have been selected among the 100 players that came for the exercise, adding that one of the criteria for trimming down the number of players was age, because some of the players were above the age limit for the programme.
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‎He further explained that the exercise is still open, that more players would join the exercise tomorrow, maintaining that at the end of the programme, 40 players would be selected, pointing out that those picked on day two could still be dropped if they fall short of the standard.
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‎The exercise enters day three on Friday, 15th May, 2026 at the Samson Siasia Stadium with proceedings commencing at 10.00a.m.