…Lauds Organisers of the Award for the Vision to Reward Hard Work
…as identified talents from the tournament prepare for playing careers abroad.
The Director General of the Bayelsa State Governor’s Football Tournament tagged the Prosperity Cup Mr. Ono Akpe has dedicated the Super 4 Sports 2023 award by Rhythm 94.7 Yenagoa to the Governor Douye Diri.
The award was presented in recognition of the organiser’s commitment to the development of grassroots sports in Bayelsa State.
Mr. Akpe in a statement, dedicated the award to governor Senator Douye Diri and his Deputy Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo for their enabling support as well recognition accorded sports development in the past four years of the administration.
He equally dedicated the award to the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development Chief Daniel Igali and Local Organizing Committee LOC of the tournament for the success recorded in the last edition, pointing out that the award would bring more innovations into the tournament in the next edition.
According to him the award was a pointer of the Prosperity administration’s commitment towards empowerment of youths and the development of sports in Bayelsa following the huge achievements recorded in the sports sector.
The statement appreciates the governor for investing in grassroots sports particularly the prosperity cup which is now Africa’s biggest grassroots tournament with 214 teams, stating that the future of the youths is bright with Diri as helmsman.
The tournament has recorded tremendous successes in the 2023 edition which was witnessed by the NFF President Ibrahim Gusau and other critical stakeholders in the sporting sector.
It also witnessed the introduction of the female edition of the tournament as well as the Para Soccer segment in the 2023 edition.
Five players from the tournament were selected to play in the Nigerian Premier League; 2 in Bayelsa United and 3 in Bendel Insurance.
After the tournament, 100 players were initially screened and selected from across the state, and eventually two sets of 18 players each were selected into the 2 teams. These two teams of 18 players and 2 officials each totaling 40 were camped for 3 months and sponsored to participate in the SPOCS International Scouting Programme at the Remo Intl Stadium Ikenne Ogun State.
At the programme, 14 of our young talented players were initially selected at the German Based Football Scouting programme, and eventually, 4 of them were offered contracts to play abroad.
Inspired by the quality and standard of the teams, the organisers of the Tournament, SPOC International and the LOC agreed to hold the 3rd DOUYE DIRI INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING PROGRAMME in Yenagoa from 29th October – 5th November with 4 scouts from Europe participating in the week long programme.
Another set of 11 players were identified, and 5 selected are being prepared for international football careers abroad. Also, a Coaching Clinic for indigenous Grassroot coaches was conducted by the foreign scouts/coaches in Yenagoa during the programme.
Between the 25th and 28th of November, some players were also sent to the SPOCS Scouting Programme in Abuja, where 3 players and 1 goal keeper have been penciled down for playing contracts abroad.
Due to the fact that most of the selected players are under 18, two of them would be leaving the country in December to a club in Gambia owned by SPOCS International Germany until they reach the age of 18 before they will proceed to Europe.
One player would be joining a Ghanaian Club, who are competing in the CAF Confederation Cup. Documentation of the other identified players is ongoing in a bid to meet the January international transfer window Mr Akpe added.
It notes that the last edition of the biggest grassroots football tournament in Nigeria has given young Bayelsans the platform to seek for greener pastures abroad with foreign clubs.
He commends the organizers of Super 4 Sports award 2023 for conceiving the vision to reward hard work and consistency from the administrators, footballers, media and the fans describing the initiative as laudable.
