From Seyi Tayese, Yenagoa
The organisers of the Bayelsa Governor’s Cup tagged Prosperity Cup has said the sum of fifty million naira (N50,000.000) have been set aside as prize money for the winners of this year’s tournament.
According to the breakdown, the male champion will go home with ten million naira while the second runner up will go home with five million naira and the third place will smile home with two million five hundred thousand naira and the fourth position will be awarded one million five hundred thousand naira and one million naira consolation prices.
For the female category, the winner is set to go home with five million naira while the second runner up will get two million five hundred thousand naira and the third place will go home with one million five hundred thousand while the fourth position will smile home with five hundred thousand naira and another five hundred thousand naira for consolation prices.
Addressing the media at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, the Director General of the Central Working Committee Mr Onoriode Kelvin Akpe said, all the local government winners received one million naira each while the second runner up got five hundred thousand naira which has been paid already while waiting for the final matches.
According to him, there are other prices including trophy, buying of boots for Azuzama team and one hundred thousand naira cash award. “Prices will also be given to the most enviable players and the highest goal scorers and other prices”.
Speaking further said, this year two hundred and twenty twenty four teams registered and 26 centers used in communities field across the eight local government areas of the state. Saying about 37 outstanding players were picked during the tournament for male categories.
“The female category has 27 registered teams with 20 teams participating. Due to our strict nature, we make sure it is those teams that are properly registered participated and those who did not meet the deadline even though they bought our forms we did not give them concessions.
“All together we have a whooping 224 football matches since February this year, a total number of 537 goals have been scored so far which is an average of 2.4 goals per match . This is really unprecedented because we had eight local governments and 26 communities school Fields.
” On the final, 3rd place matches will take place on Thursday 12th June 2025. For the female category
Bayelsa Stars Queens FC will take on BYSCON FC by 1pm, while on male categories, Bayelsa United Feeders will take on Crusaders FC
by 3pm.
“The grand finale will be on Friday 13th June 2025 as Ezougha FC will take on Afini Ladies FC by 1Pm under female category while for the male categories EGM FC will lock horn with Advance Dreams FA by 3Pm. And all the matches will take place at the main bowl of the Samson Siasia stadium in Yenagoa the state capital”.
According to the DG, dignitaries expected includes,Bayelsa state governor Sen Douye Diri will be the chief host, Deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo is the host while the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau is the Special Guest of Honour for the showdown.
Others are, Mallam Shehu Dikko, chairman National Sports Commission would be chairman of the occasion, Director General National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olapade is also expected to grace the occasion. chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, Chairman Nigeria National League, NNL, Mr.George Aluo, Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria Nationwide League One, Olushola Ogunnowo, Chief Executive Officer of the NNL, Mr. Emmanuel Attah and Chief Operating Officer of the NNL, Mr. Danlami Alanana are all expected at the finals.
