… As Permanent Secretary Commends Coaches for Professionalism
After three days of rigorous screening exercise to select players that will feature in the upgraded and expanded FC Barcelona-affiliated Bayelsa Starlets Academy, 36 outstanding players within the age bracket of U-15 and U-19 have been selected.
The exercise, which was coordinated by ex-international Edema Fuludu and his team of assistants, had over 160 players in attendance who are basically products from the just-concluded season 8 of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, tagged the Prosperity Cup.
The programme is coming a week after the spanish football giants, FC Barcelona and the Bayelsa State Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU signaling the commencement of the FC Barcelona-affiliated academy in the State.
Speaking at the end of day three of the exercise, an elated Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports Development, Mr Pere Erefe, said he was pleased with the intensity of the exercise, maintaining that the academy would help curb youth restiveness in the State, to a large extent.
While noting that the signing of the MoU last week has opened another chapter for Bayelsa sports, Efeke, who described the academy set-up as a laudable initiative, said the Prosperity administration is deliberate about grassroots sports development,
Mr. Erefe commended the coaches for their thoroughness and professionalism in ensuring that the best legs are selected for the academy, expressing confidence that the players will give their very best when the academy starts in earnest.
While appreciating the Director General of the Prosperity Cup, Mr. Ono Akpe and his team for their foresight, he commended the governor, Senator Douye Diri, the deputy governor, Dr. Peter Akpe and the Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr Daniel Igali for giving sports premium attention.
Two participants, Joel Uduak and Ayanka Joshua expressed gratitude to the organisers of the Prosperity Cup for the life-changing initiative, stressing that they are prepared for the task ahead.
In the meantime, the selected team will on Saturday, 16th of May, 2026, engage Kingdom Football Academy in a friendly match at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa at 11.00am, before embarking on camping.
Bayelsa Starlets Academy Concludes Screening Exercise
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