… As Starlets Begin Preparations for N-Youth League
International Partners of Bayelsa Starlets, FC Barcelona of Spain have commended the Bayelsa State Government for the practical steps it has taken to ensure implementation of the MoU it signed with the government.
FC Barcelona officials particularly commended the government for the facilities it has put in place for the comfort of Starlets’ players, pointing out that players’ comfort was not negotiable if they must perform well on the field of play.
They made this known during their three-day visit to Bayelsa while assessing the Onopa facility located behind Government House.
They expressed satisfaction with the temporary camp of the team situated at Onopa in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
In the course of the visit, which coincided with the State’s 30th anniversary celebrations, Bernat Villa-Gorriz,Technical Director FC Barcelona for Europe and Africa, said he was impressed with facilities and the hostels he saw and that the facility reflects the government’s commitment to the Memorandum of Understanding, Mou signed in May this year.
According to him, the environment is not only conductive, but is equally spacious for an academy and that beyond football the accommodation would create a strong bond amongst players as they are determined to see players combine their talents and education.
He also applauded the Management of the Starlets for the quality of football displayed by the players in the two matches he watched, pointing out that the team has improved tremendously compared to the last time he visited.
Gorriz commended the Director General of the Prosperity Cup and his team for their determination and steadfastness in ensuring that the lads realized their potential, stressing that the academy has given the kids a means of livelihood.
On his part, Mr. Sylvester Okonkwo of Whiz-Kid Ventures, Netherlands, who brokered the deal between the Spanish football giants and the Bayelsa State Government, noted that the temporary structure of the academy was indicative of government’s readiness to set-up the Bayelsa Starlets Academy in line with the MoU that was signed between FC Barcelona and the government.
Also speaking, Director General of the Prosperity Cup Mr. Ono Akpe appreciated the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Akpe and the Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr Daniel Igali for providing the facilities as well as the funds the government has extended to the team since the academy took off.
Akpe said immediately after the MoU was signed the management of the Starlets swung into action to assemble a team from the season eight of the tournament, stressing that the selection was headed by a group of coaches led by former international, Edema Fuludu.
He explained that the painstaking step that was taken by the coaches was gradually yielding results having emerged champions in the NLO Youth League that was held in Yenagoa and the players have been in camp since then, with the organization being professionally run as an academy.
In separate interviews, Secretary of the Bayelsa State Football Association, Mr Diseye Nwankwe and member of the Central Organizing Committee COC, Mr Zuzu Ebimotimi, urged the lads to be disciplined and be professional in the discharge of their duties.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa Starlets Academy have been fine-tuning their preparations for the N-Youth League with a series of training matches with neighbouring clubs.
Bayelsa Starlets Academy, affiliated to FC Barcelona of Spain, will kick-start their N-Youth League campaign away to Supreme Kings FA on the 13th of October, 2026 before returning home to face PSMA Pepperest on the 20th of October, at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.
