THE NEWS COMMENTARY IS ON THE REPOSITIONING OF THE SPORTS INDUSTRY IN BAYELSA, COURTESY OF THE GOVERNOR, HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR DOUYE DIRI

-

By Laye Julius

On the 27th of August,2022, Bayelsa United made a dramatic return to the nation's top flight league, the Nigeria Professional Football League, (NPFL), after seven years of sojourn in the Nigeria National League (NNL).

Bayelsans from all walks of life kept their political affiliations aside,and trooped to the streets to celebrate the feat.
This is coming a year after the state male football team Bayelsa United, alongside the female team, Bayelsa Queens made history by winning the Aiteo Cup, formerly known as the FA Cup, in Benin City, Edo State on the 8th of August, 2022, an achievement that has never been equalled by any state in the country.

The Prosperity girls beat FC Robo 4-2 in a wet evening at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium Benin City, while Bayelsa United on the other hand triumphed over Nasarawa United 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at regulation time.

Just few days, Bayelsa Queens recorded another historic feat by conquering West Africa in Cote D'Ivoire, after the team clinched the West African slot to represent the region at the second edition of the CAF Female Champions League, following their three nil trouncing of Ghanian League side, Ampem Darkoa FC, in the final of the showpiece,

Their participation in the competition, followed their victory of the female league at the Super six also in Benin City, ahead of Rivers Angels, Edo Queens and neighbors Delta Queens.

The performance of the Bishop Dimeari Grammar School of Yenagoa and perennial champions, St Jude's Girls Secondary School Amarata, at this year's Nestle Milo Secondary Basketball championships, will linger in the memory of the people for a long time, even as the female side prepares to represent Nigeria in Serbia this year.

These performances, in addition to the achievement of the state athletes at the 20th National Sports Festival in Benin City, Edo State, where Bayelsa finish 3rd position - the highest so far, and a Bayelsan, Ifiezibe Gagbe, emerging the most reliable athlete in the Nigerian version of the Olympics.

The story of team Nigeria in the Olympic games in Japan and the Commonwealth games in Birmingham England will be incomplete without Bayelsa State wrestlers playing a pivotal role in the nation's outing, placing Bayelsa State in the global map.

In April 15th 2022, Bayelsa State emerged champions of the inaugural edition of the National Para Games, after winning 93 medals at the event tagged ‘Abuja 2022 Festival.

The six-day event which was held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, saw Bayelsa winning 31 gold, 30 silver and 32 bronze medals.

The Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare, expressed happiness at the success of the festival and the level of competitiveness at the games, describing Bayelsa as the quarters of sports in Nigeria.

Last month, young table tennis sensation, Samuel Boboye, conquered Africa in the U-19 International Table Tennis Federation ITTF championship in Tunisia.  The victory earned  Nigeria a place in the 2022 ITTF World Youth Championships (WYC).

Boboye halted the dominance of Egypt in the team events of the 2022 ITTF Africa Youth Championships as he currently ranked world number 226 in table tennis.

These achievements did not come as a surprise to lovers of sports in the state, as for the past three years, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri the Governor of Bayelsa State has invested hugely in sports development.

Most request for the state to participate at both National and International tourneys, have always gotten express approval by the Governor, and not forgetting the approval of hosting National competitions such as the Governor Diri Scrabble Championship and the Governor Diri Wrestling Classics, in addition to ensuring the state teams and athletes get the necessary backing.

For those in the sports sector, the Governor is simply breaking his own records. As Commissioner for Sports under the Goodluck Jonathan's era as Governor, the state was among the power house in Nigeria football, with the exploits of Ocean Boys of Brass who became league champions in 2006, and Bayelsa Queens, after they won the league and the FA Cup same year.

His Excellency, Governor Douye Diri is passionate about creating the enabling environment for the youths to develop their talents, and recognized the fact that sports is no longer a source of entertainment, but also a money spinner, a source of livelihood and means of healthy living.

No wonder the Governor introduced the weekly Prosperity Walk every Thursday which he leads.

The Miracle Governor as fondly called, having created the platform for youths to excel, has also proposed to construct a beffititing stadium of international standard, owing to available resources. This bit of news gladdened the hearts of sports stakeholders, especially for the fact that the state since it's creation twenty six years ago has only one stadium.

The Samson Siasia Sports Complex, if not rehabilitated can no longer host the National Sports Festival, talk less of hosting a continental competition, whereas neighboring state like Rivers, has the Yakubu Gowon Stadium formerly known as the Liberation Stadium, and the Adokiye Amieyesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt amongst other mini stadia across the Local Government Areas.

Delta State has more than ten standard stadia notable among them is the Stephen Keshi stadium, the Warri Township Stadium, the fourteen thousand capacity Ozoro Polytechnic Stadium, Sapele Township Stadium, Oghara stadium, to mention but few.

Should the construction of a befitting stadium at its proposed site - the Bayelsa Palm road by the Diri led administration, and with the undiluted support of the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo who supervises the Ministry of Youths Sports Development, not forgetting the workaholic Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon Daniel Igali, Bayelsa State will continue to be a force  to reckon with in Nigeria.

Comrade Laye Julius, former Bayelsa United  Vice Chairman and presently Chairman Trade Union Congress, TUC Bayelsa State Council.

Popular posts from this blog

Umuahia North Stakeholders Forum Call on Mayor Ikeji to Run For Council Chair

-
Image
The leadership of Umuahia North Stakeholders Forum has called on the Mayor of Umuahia North LGA, Hon. High-Chief Victor Ikeji, Ph.D ( Kpakpando-Umuahia), to run for the local government chairmanship position in the forthcoming local government polls in Abia State. Speaking on behalf of the group, Chief Arthur Nwamara said, the group came to this conclusion after evaluating the performance of the Mayor since his appointment by Gov. Alex Otti. He opined that the Mayor has done well and has embarked on projects that cut across every nook and cranny of the council. He further stated that "it would be a great disservice to the people of Umuahia North if he does not return as an elected chairman considering his performance and track record." He added that the call became necessary, following the supreme court judgment and the statement by the governor recently, that local government election will be conducted in the state very soon.  "Gov Ot...
Read more

There is No Division in Umuyota, An Eze-Elect Has Emerged; Leaders of Umuyota Community Says; Warns Imposters

-
Image
The People of Umuyota Autonomous Community in Umuawa-Alaocha, Ohuhu, Umuahia North LGA has reacted to a press release purportedly signed by one imposter named Chikamara Metuh. In a press release signed by Mr. Bright Udeh the Youth President of the Umuokarafor Community, the community where both Mr. Adimchinobi Abraham and High Chief Sonny Uwakwe Nlewedim hails from has advised  members of the public to disregard the so-called press release trying to present the emergence of Chief Sonny Nlewedim as the Eze-Elect of Umuyota Autonomous Community in dispute. According to Mr Udeh "I am the youth president of Umuokarafor, who was unanimously elected by the entire youths of Umuokarafor, Mr. Chikamara Metuh, is not a youth president, nor an executive in Umuokarafor or Umuyota". His imposition clearly shows that the press release is a hatchet job aimed at misleading members of the public to believe that there is a division in Umuyota where there is none. Chief Sunny Nlewed...
Read more

Mayor Ikeji Calls on Umuahia North Indigenes/Residents to Take Advantage of Ongoing Job/Business Opportunities.

-
Image
The Mayor provides links to 11 ongoing recruitment and business initiatives and urged indigenes and residents of the council, especially youths, to take advantage of the initiatives. The links to these initiatives are provided below; 1. Student loan scheme nelf.gov.ng 2. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative        pci.gov.ng 3. Consumer Credit Corporation          credicorp.ng 4. Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDiCE) program        boi.ng/iDiCE 5. Skill-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA)         SUPA.itf.gov.ng 6. Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA)      NIYA.ng 7.  National Youth Talent Export Programme (NATEP)      natep.gov.ng 8.  Micro and Small Business loans https://www.boi.ng/micro-business/ 9.  Housing Initiatives       fha.gov.ng/ongoing-projec… 10.  NDDC INTERNSHIP SCHEME nyis.nddc.gov.ng 11.  Nano- Business Support ht...
Read more