By David Owei,Bayelsa

Team Bayelsa added 5 more gold medals to their tally on day 4 of competition at the ongoing 2nd Niger Delta Games, Edo 2026.

Bayelsa won 5 gold medals on the opening day, and added 3 more gold medals the next day.

On Monday, Bayelsa won 2 gold medals in Swimming, adding 1 silver and 1 bronze from the pool.

They also earned 3 gold and 2 silver medals in Chess.

Traditional Wrestling also raked in 1 silver and 1 bronze.

As of Monday evening, Team Bayelsa are third in the overall medals table with 13 gold, 7 silver and 11 bronze giving a total of 31 medals after 4 days of action.

Hosts, Edo State lead the medals table with 47 medals comprising 22 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze.

Delta are 2nd with 44 medals made up of 14 gold, 19 silver and 11 bronze.

Abia are 4th, Cross River 5th, Rivers 6th , Akwa Ibom 7th and Imo 8th while Ondo are bottom with 2 gold, 1 silver and 5 bronze bringing their total to 8 medals.

By David Owei,Bayelsa

Director General of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, Mr. Ono Akpe has given plaudits to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for its investment in sports Development in the country.

Mr. Akpe, driver of the vision of the biggest grassroots football competition in Africa, who spoke on the sidelines of the ongoing 2nd Niger Delta Games at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, said the funding provided by the Commission had immensely triggered a sports revolution in the region and the nation at large.

‘What we saw in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State during the 1st edition of the Niger Delta Games and what we are seeing in the second edition in Benin City, shows that there is a deliberate and structured attempt to develop sports in the Niger Delta and in the country. We must therefore commend the NDDC for this, especially the Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Chairman and the entire Board for this massive support for sports. Yes, it is enough to build bridges, roads, airports, but if you don’t develop human capacity, then you leave a huge lacuna in society’, he enthused.

Mr. Akpe, who is a member of the Main Organising Committee for the Niger Delta Games, urged other States, the organized private sector and other organisations to take a cue from Bayelsa to support the NDDC’s efforts, noting that investment in sports creates employment for citizens, take the youths off the streets, crimes and social vices and make the society a safer place for everyone.

He also gave kudos to the project initiators and organisers of the Niger Delta Games, Dunamis Icon for the vision of introducing the first ever regional sports festival in the country.

‘Let me also give thumbs up to the vision bearer, Sir Itiako Malik Ikpokpo for initiating this. May God strengthen him and his team and give him the wisdom to take these Games to greater heights. With this, we have seen that local talent could transform any project. With these two editions, they have taken sports development and management to another level. It is not easy coordinating nine States and bringing them to one location, equipping, kitting, accommodating, feeding and funding them. This is really massive and I want to encourage them to do more’, the DG stated.

The Director General said organisers of the Prosperity Cup were in serious discussion with the NDDC, expressing the hope that the talks would bear fruits soonest, especially with the international brand, FC Barcelona coming into the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament as International Technical Advisers.

Mr. Akpe who said with such brand and the NDDC coming in, sports and football development in Bayelsa and the Niger Delta would get to a different pedestal by increasing professional level of coaching, scouting, talent identification and promotion, as well as exposing young footballers to better professional contracts in the major leagues in Europe and other parts of the world.

He thanked key partners such as Premium Trust Bank, Linkage Assurance, Binad Waters and recently, the Nigerian Customs Service through the Comptroller General of Customs, who is also the President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation and has encouraged the Prosperity Cup just as he called on others to take a cue and support the tournament.

By David Owei,Bayelsa

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has charged multinational oil companies and other corporate organizations operating in the state to complement the efforts of government in the area of sports development.

The Governor gave the charge while speaking during the presentation of branded jersey to him by members of the Central Organizing Committee (COC) of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, also known as the Prosperity Cup.

Governor Diri also kick-started the process of the conduct the official draws of the tournament. In addition, he performed the ceremonial distribution of kits — comprising jerseys for players and coaches, as well as footballs to three teams participating in the tournament namely Afini Ladies of Amarata, Agbere FC of Agbere community and one of the para-soccer teams.

Senator Diri, who expressed delight at how the tournament has grown from a modest competition in 2015 to becoming Nigeria’s biggest grassroots competition with as many as 228 teams participating in the male category alone, commended organisers of the tournament for the great job they are doing.

Still speaking on the phenomenal growth of the tournament, Governor Diri said government alone could not develop sports and called on oil companies, other corporate organizations and well-meaning Bayelsans to support the tournament, maintaining that sports remains a vital tool to curb youth restiveness.
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‎According to the governor, who also the development of sports in any nation was incomplete without the grassroots sports development, pointing out that his administration remains committed to youth engagement and empowerment through sports.
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‎He commended the organizers of the tournament for putting together a refresher course for referees of the State Referees Council, urging the umpires to be upright in the discharge of their duties during the competition.
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‎He equally appreciated lead sponsors of the tournament, Premium Trust Bank, Linkage Assurance, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, and the Board of Internal Revenue for investing in sports development for their support.
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‎Also Deputy Director General of the tournament, Mr. Perela Aboro, described the main draws which took place shortly after at the Golden Tulip Resort Secretariat of the organisers of the Prosperity Cup, as transparent to every team, maintaining that this year’s edition would be the best in terms of organization.
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‎He noted that all hands were on deck to ensure that the competition was hitch-free in the various centres, adding that every effort was made to ensure teams were close to their base to cut high cost of transportation.
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‎Coach Perez Walson of FC De-Lavida, who in an interview, noted that he was prepared for the tournament, said he was particularly excited about the coaching clinic, adding that this year’s edition would be historic.
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‎Meanwhile, the draws conducted saw Canaan FC up against Sangana FC at the Okpoama centre in Brass Local Government Area, Ibidi FC will welcome Igoni FC of Igoni, Tough Dynamites will entertain Egweama FC as Amaogbo FC confronts Formosa FC.
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‎Fantua FC will battle Okoroba FC at the Opu-Nembe centre in the Nembe LGA; Young Ranger FC will take on Mangrove Ace FC while Okoroma United are drawn by. Genesis FC will keep a date with Victory FC, MC FC will lock horns with Nembe City as Fisherman Sons FC are on stand-bye.
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‎The Kolo centre in Ogbia Local Government Area will see Abagi FC tango Diocese of Ogbia, Movers FC of Otuasega battles Emeyal 2 FC, Ewoi FC of Ewoi will face neighbours Onuebum FC, as Bayelsa State College of Health Technology BYCOTECH FC faces Chief Street FC.