By David Owei, Baylesa
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has received the Torch of Unity from the National Sports Commission ahead of the 22nd National Sports Festival, slated for Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital from the 16th through the 30th May, 2025.

Governor Diri, who was represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, highlighted the importance of peace and unity, stating that sports promote unity, discipline, love and friendship among citizens of a nation.

According to him, the Gateway Games in Ogun State would provide another opportunity to promote unity amongst athletes, pointing out that sports is the only vehicle that has continued to put the country on the path of unity, irrespective of region and tribe.

The state’s helmsman reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of sports in Bayelsa State, adding that the state’s performance in the just concluded Niger Delta Sports Festival in Uyo was a testament to the abundance of talents in the state.

He urged athletes to adequately prepare themselves for the festival, that there is a huge task ahead to surpass the record set in 2022 in Asaba, Delta State were Bayelsa finished 2nd in the National Sports Festival for the first time, maintaining that Bayelsa has gone beyond the level of participation but winning.

Governor Diri’s administration is committed to completing the 25,000-capacity stadium for the state athletes to compete favourably with their peers outside Bayelsa, stressing that sports remains one of his administration’s cardinal programmes.

“Bayelsa has taken sports as a major tool to take our youths away from crime and drugs, because every youth that is into sports cannot be a criminal. We are also using it to control drugs because drugs and sports are diametrically opposed to each other”.

“We believe that, we are taking sports seriously to ensure that our youths get out of drugs and earn a living through sports. As we speak two Bayelsans are currently in the U-20 national football team in Egypt for the U-20 Africa Championship”

Earlier, commissioner for Sports Development, Dr. Daniel Igali, in an address of welcome, praised the government’s contributions to the development of sports in the state, describing the event as symbolic.

In a remark, leader of the National Sports Commission delegation, Mrs. Ikana Mbora, said the festival would be an exhilarating experience and expressed the commitment of the commission to ensure its success.

In separate goodwill messages, Chairman House Committee on Sports, Barr Tare Porri and Director of Sports, Bayelsa State Sports Council, Sir Braveman Wodi, expressed readiness for the fiesta, adding that camping has already commenced for the athletes.

By David Owei, Baylesa

Prosperity Cup Women’s defending Champions, Niger Delta University Queens have been ousted from Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football spectacle, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football showpiece .

In a keenly contested match at the BDGS battle ground, high-scoring Ezuogha Queens defeated defending champions, NDU Queens by a lone goal to progress to the next round of the competition.

Ezougha, which had put up a ruthless performance in their opening fixture scoring eight goals against Diamond Stars, had to dig deep to find the back of their opponents net in the 67th minute through Numulayefa Princess.

In the second match of the day at the same venue, Stardom Life Sports Academy of Ogboloma pipped Seaside Academy of Ovom by a lone goal. Paul Favour’s goal on 37 minutes was all the Ogboloma-based team needed to advance to the next round of the tournament.

The Kpansia arena will take centre stage on Wednesday, when Jerry Queens FC of Ogbia confront Afini Ladies of Yenagoa at 3.00p.m., while Crystal Stars will keep a date with Global Queens by 4.30p.m.

Action continues on Thursday at the same venue with Akeddei Queens from Sagbama LGA taking on Bayelsa State College of Nursing Sciences, BYSCON Queens by 3.00p.m. while Niger Delta Queens trade hard tackles with Golden Sun Sports Club of Yenagoa at 4.30p.m.

Speaking Tuesday’s game, victorious coach of Stardom Life Sports Academy, Inemotimi Kofi, said both sides gave their best, pointing out that his team would have done better if not for some players who missed the match because of examination commitments.

According to him, he knew the game was going to be tough for his team, stating that they have been in close camping preparing for the competition, which gave his team a slight advantage.

He, however, expressed the hope that his full squad will be available for their next tie.

Also speaking , head coach of Seaside Academy, Awusa Anthony, said in addition to the cheap goal his players conceded which demoralized them, his team’s wastefulness in front of goal was one of their greatest undoing. He said they would go back to the drawing board, correct their mistakes and come back stronger next season.

By David Owei,Baylesa
The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Bayelsa State Chapter has thrown its weight behind the local government finals of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, tagged the Prosperity Cup.

ALGON expressed its commitment during a parley with members of the Central Organizing Committee, COC ahead of the local government finals.

According to the body, they are working towards successful finals across the 8 local government areas, while also expressing appreciation with the platform created by the governor to foster unity and peace amongst communities in the state.

ALGON applauded the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo for positively engaging the youths through sports and particularly the Prosperity Cup which is gradually attaining international recognition.

Meanwhile, the Central Organizing Committee, COC of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football spectacle, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament has concluded arrangements for the local government finals.

Director General of the tournament, Mr. Ono Akpe in a statement on behalf of the committee shortly after a meeting with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria ALGON disclosed that, the LGA finals will hold at the various Local Government Areas beginning from the 3rd of May, 2025.

According to him, the Prosperity Cup championship games will start on the 3rd of May, 2025 with Sangana FC and hard-fighting Igoni FC going head to head for the top prize in Brass LGA, while 5th of May will see Sampou FC and Adaka FC do battle in the Kolokuma/Opokuma final.

Thursday, the 8th of May 2025 will be the turn of Ekeremor LGA, as former champions, Krusaders FC keep a date with Youbolobo FC.

Nembe will be the cynosure of all eyes on the 10th of May, when Nembe City FC trade tackles with Okoroba FC, as Sagbama LGA defending champions, Agbere FC confront Indomitable FC in the Sagbama final on the 12th of May.

It will be Movers FC of Otuasega taking on high-flying Citiboi FC for the Ogbia LGA Top Prize on May 13th.

According to Mr. Akpe the battle ground shifts to Southern Ijaw on the 15th of May, 2025 when Professor Nimibofa Ayawei’s PNA FC clash with Oyoma FC, while Bayelsa United Feeders  will slug it out with Eternal Grace Ministries, E.G.M FC on May 17th, for the Yenagoa top honours.