Sports
Organisers of Prosperity Cup Inspect Match Venues … Kick-off fixed for February 26th
By David Owei,Bayelsa
As preparations for the 2026 edition of the Governor’s Football Tournament, also known as the Prosperity Cup, enter top gear, the Central Organizing Committee (COC) of the competition has sent out its technical team to assess the suitability of match venues.
The technical team will be inspecting the proposed match centres to ascertain the condition of the playing turf and how easily accessible the communities are. The technical team will also be conscious of security considerations.
There are a total of 35 proposed match centres across the state with 30 centres scheduled to be selected to mark the 30th anniversary of the state.
According to the schedule of activities unveiled at the Central Organizing Committee meeting held at the Tulip Resort Secretariat of the organisers, on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, the official kick-off date of the competition has been scheduled for February 26, 2026 to coincide with the presence of technical officials from Spanish football giants, FC Barcelona.
Members of the visiting team from FC Barcelona are expected to join the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri in taking the ceremonial kick-off.
It will be recalled that the organisers of Prosperity Cup, the biggest grassroots football spectacle in the country, recently struck a landmark partnership deal with FC Barcelona through their Netherlands based agents, Whiz-kid Ventures. The deal will see the visiting FC Barcelona technical team conducting a three-day international UEFA-certified coaching clinic for 50 football coaches.
The international coaching clinic is being organized in collaboration with the Bayelsa State Ministry of Sports Development and the Bayelsa State Football Association (BFA) and powered by Abuja-based Sports Marketing firm, Red Sapphire Ltd.
The coach’s training programme, which will be coordinated by Bernard Villa Boas, the Technical Director for Africa Project, will be taking the Bayelsa grassroots football coaches through a series of sessions on modern coaching skills and techniques, with particular focus on the methodology and philosophy of the Spanish club.
The FC Barcelona coaching training programme will dovetail into another training to be organized in conjunction with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) with the Federation’s Technical Director, Austin Eguavoen as the focal person.
Distribution of kits to the various teams as well as draws for the competition, will be coming up on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
The grand finale of the competition is expected to come up on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.
The visit of the FC Barcelona team will afford them the opportunity to discuss the establishment of a world-class football academy in Bayelsa State.
Other areas of potential collaboration include the training of football administrators, talent identification and placement of discovered talents in schools, academies and clubs to further their development.
Prosperity Cup 2026 is a special edition that is being used to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the creation of Bayelsa State and it will also mark the sixth anniversary of Governor Douye Diri’s ‘Assured Prosperity’ Administration.
Champions in the male category of this special “Bayelsa @ 30” edition of the competition will receive the sum of N30 million while runners-up will go home with the sum of N10 million and in the female category, the winners will smile to the bank with the sum of N10 million while the runners-up will be five million Naira richer.
Meanwhile, plans are being intensified for a hitch-free edition of the tournament with a series of capacity building programmes lined up in the coming weeks. These include training programmes for referees, medical personnel, centre coordinators, as well as media practitioners that will cover the tournament.
Sports
More Talents Spotted in Bayelsa United/Prosperity Cup Tourney … As Competition Enters Matchday Three
By David Owei,Bayelsa
The quest to return Bayelsa United to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL next season is gradually gaining momentum with twelve participating teams showcasing their talents in the Bayelsa United/Prosperity Cup pre-season tournament.
The competition, targeted at discovering home-grown talents that would be integrated into the Bayelsa United team next season, has the 2026 Prosperity Cup finalists apart from champions, Okoroma United, whose players are currently undergoing trials in different teams outside the state.
Bayelsa Starlets Academy in the first match of matchday two showed class as they whitewashed AJ Inter Soccer Academy 4-1 with goals from Silas Benjamin, Udake Joel and a brace from Nathaniel Ojigbere.
Former champions, Krosaders FC of Peretorugbene were held to a barren draw by rugged and determined Brazil FC. Ereme Jackson humbled NDU Oilers FC by three goals to one while Bayelsa United Feeders in the last match of the day edged out Grassroots FC with two unreplied goals.
The tournament will enter match day three on Saturday, 25th July, 2026. Mountain of the Lord Deliverance Ministry, MLDM FC will take on Grassroots FC in the first match at 11.00am, Bayelsa Starlets will keep a date with Mountain of Fire Miracle Ministry, MFM FC at 12.30pm
Prosperity Cup finalist, Akinima Biogbo will battle Ereme Jackson of Port-Harcourt at 2.00pm while Federal University of Otuoke, FUO Kings FC will lock horns with Brazil FC in the last match of matchday three at 3.30pm at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.
By David Owei
Chairman of the Interim Board of Bayelsa United Football Club, Dr. Peter Singabele has stressed the need for collaboration between the Feeder team and senior teams of Bayelsa United
Dr. Singabele made the call while addressing coaches and players of the Feeder team shortly after their training session at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa on Wednesday.
He noted that for the club to succeed in it’s aspirations of returning the team to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL that coaches from both Feeders and the senior team must work hand in gloves to achieve its objectives.
According to him, the Feeder team is the foundation of every club in the world and not a dumping ground for players but a veritable platform for nurturing talented players that are capable of gaining promotion to the senior team.
Dr Singabele asserted that the board was deliberate about the growth of the Feeder team and that they are desirous of seeing more players from Feeder graduate into the main team, noting that the Feeder team serves as a “breeding ground”.
He hinted that preparations are underway for them to have a fruitful season, maintaining that the registration process for the Nigeria Youth League has been completed successfully.
”The feeder team is not a dumping ground. You must be up to the task of playing for this club. We must not compromise the growth of Bayelsa United. Because If properly managed, the feeder team will be the future of the senior team,” he said.
He explained that the board would thoroughly scrutinize players before they are considered for promotion, insisting that only those who meet the required standards would be considered into the first team, urging players to be professionals in the discharge of their duties.
The chairman assured the players and coaches that the board remains committed to improving their welfare, stating that the board is poised to provide a conducive environment for them to perform at their optimum.
Dr Singabele who described the NNL as a more difficult league, urged the players to be determined in their quest to bring the team back to the top flight at the end of the season, saying that one of the objectives of the pre-season tournament is to discover talents that would feature in the team.
Also speaking, Bayelsa United Assistant Coach, Ngozi Elechi, charged the players in the Feeder team to make use of the opportunity before them, stressing that outstanding players would be promoted to the senior team.
Bayelsa United Feeders are currently preparing for the Bayelsa United/Prosperity Cup pre-season tournament aimed at identifying and developing home grown talented players for possible integration into the senior team ahead of the upcoming football season.
By David Owei,Bayelsa
Bayelsa United have resumed preparations for the 2026/2027 Nigeria National League, NNL with their first training session at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa
The session, which marked the start of pre-season activities for the club was supervised by the club’s technical crew, led by assistant coach Ngozi Elechi alongside Anderson West.
The Bayelsa united players
The players underwent light fitness drills and tactical routines as the coaching crew assessed their conditioning ahead of a more intensive build-up programme.
More players are expected to join the team in the coming days as preparations for the Bayelsa United/Prosperity Cup Pre-season tournament in Yenagoa gathers momentum in line with the vision of the governor, Senator Douye Diri to return the team back to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL at the end of the 2026/27 season.
Before training commenced, a member of the board, Godson Ekarde charged the players to approach the new season with discipline, dedication and a strong winning mentality, describing the campaign as “a season of serious business” for the club.
Mr. Ekarde, said the management is committed to providing the support the team needs to compete strongly in the NNL and secure promotion back to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL.
He urged both players and the technical crew to justify the confidence reposed in them by delivering an improved performance and more consistent results throughout the season.
OBYC Worldwide fault Ineife led IYC over planned protest against Bayelsà Industrialist. ….urges IYC to respect for Court Process
By David Owei,Bayelsa The Ogbia Brotherhood Youth Council (OBYC) Worldwide has condemned the planned protest over the legal dispute involving...
OBYC Worldwide fault Ineife led IYC over planned protest against Bayelsà Industrialist. ….urges IYC to respect for Court Process The Ogbia Brotherhood Youth Council (OBYC) Worldwide has condemned the planned protest over the legal dispute involving Azikel Group President, Dr. Azibapu Godbless Eruani, CFR, and Mr. Kariyai Daukoru, describing the action as unnecessary while the matter remains before a competent court. OBYC, in a statement issued on Saturday and made available to newsmen, urged Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Central Zone Chairman, Comrade Peres Ineife, to suspend the proposed protest and allow the judicial process to run its course. It also appealed to the newly elected IYC Worldwide President, Dr. Doubra Collins Okotete, to promote dialogue and reconciliation among the parties involved in the Aviation Training initiative. OBYC maintained that Dr. Eruani’s aviation training initiative was a philanthropic programme designed to empower Bayelsa youths and rejected allegations that he intended to victimise anyone. The Council further called on Ijaw youths, political leaders and stakeholders to exercise restraint, respect the rule of law, and avoid actions capable of undermining the judiciary or disrupting peace.
By David Owei,Bayelsa The Ogbia Brotherhood Youth Council (OBYC) Worldwide has condemned the planned protest over the legal dispute involving...
More Talents Spotted in Bayelsa United/Prosperity Cup Tourney … As Competition Enters Matchday Three
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