…as registration hits over 160
Organisers of Nigeria’s largest grassroots soccer tournament, the Prosperity Cup, (Bayelsa Governor’s Cup) have extended the deadline for the collection of forms for community football clubs to April 18, 2022.
The extension was necessitated by overwhelming appeal by communities via several phone calls, as well as besieging the secretariat for an extension, to enable them to put their teams together.
As of Friday, about one hundred and sixty (160) teams had so far purchased registration forms to participate in this year’s edition of the football tournament.
The teams comprises one hundred and fifteen (115) communities, thirty (30) churches, and thirteen (13) other institutions.
Yenagoa, the state capital, has the highest number of registered teams so far with seventy eight (78); Ekeremor – twenty three (23); Ogbia – twenty five (25); Southern Ijaw – twelve (12); Sagbama – twelve (12); Brass – eight (8); Nembe – seven (7), while Kolokuma Opokuma has the least number of teams with only five(5) teams.
Official draws will take place tentatively at the end of April, with the Prosperity Governor, His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State, as the Special Guest of Honour, who is expected to present jerseys, balls and other sport kits to participating communities.
Subsequently, the Deputy Governor, His Excellency Senator Lawrence Ewrudjakpor, shall kick off the first match at the Samson Saisia Stadium.
Director General of the tournament, Mr. Ono K. Akpe, who announced this in a statement, on Friday, expressed his delight with the huge interest expressed by communities and organisations in the state.
He stated that the number of teams registered so far for the tournament was a reflection of confidence and interest of youths and communities in the state in the tournament as well as an endorsement of the Prosperity Administration of Governor Douye Diri.
He assured Bayelsans that the organisers would ensure the tournament lived up to and even surpassed the standard it had been celebrated for.