… as the search for home-grown talents begin
Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Akpe will take the kick-off of the Bayelsa United/Prosperity Cup Pre-season tournament as preparations for the Nigeria National League, NNL season takes centre stage.
This is contained in a statement signed by the chairman of the club, Dr. Peter Singabele ahead of the oneweek pre-season tournament.
The statement noted that the number two citizen of the state, Dr. Peter Akpe, will lead other stakeholders to perform the ceremonial kick-off immediately after the weekly Prosperity Walk on Thursday July 23 at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.
The Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr Daniel Igali will be the chief host of the event, the statement said the tournament will signal a new era for Bayelsa United, which dropped to the lower division last season.
The statement noted that the tournament will see twelve teams jostling for glory in the competition with the Prosperity Cup quarter finalists and other Yenagoa-based sides, as well as a team outside the state, Ereme Jackson of Port-Harcourt, fighting for honours.
It explained that the Yenagoa-based teams are the Prosperity Cup finalists, Akinima/Biogbo as well as the Mountain of the Lord Deliverance Ministry, MLDM FC; Krosaders FC; Brazil FC; Mountain of Fire Miracle Ministry, MFM FC; Bayelsa United Feeders; Federal University Kings, FUO Kings Otuoke Grassroots FC; NDU Oilers; Aj Inter FC and Bayelsa Starlets Academy.
According to the statement, the spectacle will commence on Thursday 23rd through the 27th of July, 2026, with hostilities commencing at 8.00am on the opening day and 10am daily subsequently. All the matches will be played at the Samson Siasia Stadium, as the tournament would open a new chapter for home-grown talents in the State.
The statement further explains that the exercise would be supervised by the newly-appointed Technical Team led by the Technical Adviser/Chief Coach of Bayelsa United, Abdul Maikaba and his assistant, Ngozi Elechi as well as a technical team from the Prosperity Cup, as preparations for the new NNL season gets underway for the former Aiteo Cup champions.
”As you are aware, the idea of this tournament is to spot outstanding talents that will be infused into Bayelsa United because we want to see our team return to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL immediately. We believe that the surest way to get talents is at the grassroots through platforms like this”, the statement added.
”This is an initiative from the new board in line with the governor’s vision to discover home-grown talents for Bayelsa United that will feature in the NNL” it stated.
