F.J.M Media

By- Alambo Datonye Fred After weeks of action in the preliminary phase, this year's edition of the Bayelsa Governor's Cup enters the Round of 32 Stage. The competition which is christened "Prosperity Cup" has seen action across various centers in the eight local government areas of the State with 214 registered teams from communities to educational institutions, professional and pressure groups to worship centers taking part.  With 182 matches played so far in the Preliminary phase of the largest grassroots football tournament in the country, a total of 499 goals have been scored, an impressive average of 2.7 goals per game. According to the statistics released by the Tournament's Technical Committee led by Diseye Nwankwe, 182 out of the 214 sides that registered have been eliminated, leaving just 32 to jostle for the trophy. Round of 32 action begins on Friday running through Sunday to Monday. Director General of the Prosperity Cup, Ono Akpe expressed...

  _ ***Appreciates Gov Diri and Organizers For Improving Competition Standard**_ Everton Academy FC of Ikolo coach, Prosper Dagilo says he is optimistic that his young team will win this year's Bayelsa State Governor's Football Tournament tagged the Prosperity Cup. The team nicknamed Evertonians have been the revelation of the competition, winning three games out of three with the latest win against Overcoming Lamb Assembly FC to seal a place in the round of 32 of the Nigeria's biggest grassroots football tournament. In an interview, Coach Prosper, said his target in the Prosperity Cup is to win the competition despite parading one of the youngest squad in the tournament, pointing out that determination and commitment has shown in their current state of the competition. He noted that he was building a team that would be a feeders to many clubs in Nigeria and Africa, describing the encounter against Overcoming Lamb Assembly FC as the most difficult side the lads ...

    ***Bayelsa United Feeders, Biseni United,Shegbelegbe, Ogbo United and Others Book Round 32 Place** Tournament discovery Everton Football Academy of Ikolo on Monday produced a superb performance to record a famous 4-1 win over Overcoming Lamb Assembly FC in the Bayelsa State Governor's Football Tournament christened the Prosperity Cup in a matchday 16 encounter decided at the Bishop Dimieari Grammar School centre. The Ikolo based side had already taken the scalps of Swali FC, Boki Joy FC in the tournament but the win over Overcoming Lamb Assembly is of much greater significance. Godgift Otubo put Everton FC ahead 15 minutes into the game from close range, having controlled proceedings. Noble Agah added another on 24 minute for the Ikolo side. When it seemed the young and determined Everton team were going to go into halftime break with a 2-0 victory Michael Ambas compounded the woes of the church boys with a beauty of a shot from 30 yards from goal to make it 3...

_By Yakubu Uzoma_ The Bayelsa State Female Handball Team Bayelsa Queens are set for the first phase of the  Ardova PLC Handball Premiership that will be played in Benin City, Edo State. Speaking with the Team's Media Assistant, Head Coach Deidei Enebidou stated that the team is fit and ready for this year's competition. He noted that unlike the last time they were relegated from the Top flight competition, the team have gone on to make some signings to beef up the squad due to the support from the state government. He added that because the sport (Handball) have gone professional, the team have added quality to avoid a repeat of what happened in 2021 when they last played in the top flight league. The Team's Captain Blessing Peter said the girls are prepared and are putting in efforts to be ready for the competition in Benin because they wouldn't want a repeat of what happened in 2021. When asked on her impression on the newly signed players, she...

EBEDEBIRI CENTRE: Ofoni United FC 4-1 Akede Second Eleven FC  Sagbama United 1-2 Toru-Orua FC  KOLO CENTRE  Emayel II FC 1-2 Apret FC  OTIOKPOTI CENTRE Okodi FC 0-0 Elebele Comm. FC  Okodi FC won 3-2 on penalties. IMIRINGI CENTRE New Evangel FC 0-2 Otuasega Movers FC  SAGBAMA CENTRE* moved to Ebedebiri Primary school Bolou- Orua United FC 0-0 Agbere FC  Agbere FC won 4-2 on penalties  Akede United FC 3-0 Diri Believers FC Akede United FC walked over Diri Believers FC OPOKUMA CENTRE Boutoru FC 2-1 Igbainwari FC  KAIAMA CENTRE  Okolaba FC 2-0 Sampou Comm.II FC. Sabagreia FC 1-5 Dream Boys

  * ** Polaku FC, Ohaneze FC, Biseni United, Otuasega FC, Apret FC Progress To Round 32 Eternal Grace Ministry EGM FC, who are the defending champions of Nigeria's largest grassroot football competition, the Bayelsa State Governor's Football Tournament have been dumped out of the tournament after suffering a stunning 6-5 defeat on penalties by less fancied side, Rose of Sharon FC The defending champions EGM FC mounted so much pressure on their opponent from the first half all through the entire encounter, but were unable to find the back of the net, as the game ended in a goalless draw in regulation time at the Opolo centre, were they crashed out through penalties. EGM FC became more nervous and increased their pressure after the break and kept pushing forward, but despite dominating the second half, they were curtailed by the vigilant Rose of Sharon FC. The tournament's fourth holder of the title, failed to defend the trophy despite trouncing 'School Boys...

The Nigerian Union of Journalists Football team have progressed to the Round of thirty-two (32) following their two nil victory over Bayelsa State College of Health, Otuogidi. Despite coming into the competition as debutants, the journalists have proved not to be minnows, but contenders for the title, and will battle Kiri-Pogu Owokiri FC for the Champions from Nembe Centre. Azagbene Federated Community on Sunday also qualified for Round of 32 after defeating Egbema Angalabiri FC on matchday nine. The team won 5-3 on penalties after a goalless draw at full time. Agge FC defeated Osunmaibio FC one nil to progress to the Round of 32, while Crusaders Feeders humbled Larama FC three nil to progress to the Round of 32 from the Ayamasa centre. Southern Ijaw, Ogbia and Brass is expected to be wrapped up this week, while next week, Sagbama, Kolga and Yenagoa will complete their preliminary stages. RESULTS MATCH DAY NINE (9) 19-06-2023 EGBEMA-ANGALABIRI CENTRE: Azagbene Federa...

A one-day conference at the Marriott Hotels, Ikeja, Lagos, held on Friday the 16th of June 2023 discussed and agreed on collaborative modalities to tackle human trafficking and modern slavery in Sports.  The event was hosted by Ladies In Sports, a Nigerian based foundation, which brought together personalities from all works of life to design efforts to end this human right violation. “Expanding the fight against human trafficking” was the topic of the next panel of the conference moderated by Dr. May Ikeora, a human rights and women empowerment advocate.  During the session, speakers Laurent De Boeck - Chief of Mission of International Organization for Migration (IOM) to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Ojonuka Ajuda, Head of Women’s Football at Integral pointed out that human trafficking in sports does not only affect men. Ajuda revealed that her department has received complaints from some women who have been exploited and abandoned in another cou...

29-year-old Chemical Engineering graduate shared the story of how she entered the male-dominated Formula 1 paddock, where she became the first black woman to stand atop the Formula 1 podium. “Growing up, when I watched F1 the representation wasn’t there. Until Lewis Hamilton came into the picture, there was no one there that looked like me to inspire me. He was the person that did that for me despite him not being an Engineer,” the lifelong motorsport fan said. This is also why that moment she stood on the podium is very meaningful. “Many people don’t see what goes on behind the scenes. I wanted to make my role known to young people. Not to inspire them to be like me and to go into motorsport, but to inspire them to find their passion, because if you go into a role that you are not passionate about, you are going to have a terrible time.” After spending three years working with the Mercedes F1 team, Travers is currently the deputy team principal of Hamilton’s Extreme E team...

It was a happy day for two of the tertiary institutions participating at the ongoing Nigeria's largest grassroot football competition, the Prosperity Cup, on Matchday six, Friday, as the Amassoma centre saw the Niger Delta University FC, and the College of Health and Sciences FC, book their passage to the next round of the tournament. The major upset was in the second game when the College of Health and Sciences came from a goal down to defeat the Ijaw Youth Council, Ogboin Clan two goals to one. From the blast of the whistle, the IYC team showed class and experience in their playing pattern, which led to a couple of attempts, before striker, Lawyer, scored a beautiful header in the 14th minute from a corner kick to break the deadlock. In the second half, Egberi Ayibatonye's strike in the 74th minute made it one all. The equalizer seemed to change the wind of the game, especially with the introduction of aggressive forward, Iwhi Ufuoma, who didn't stayed on the ...

... As Anyama FC, Ogbolo FC, New Evangel FC Progress Samuel Courage's heroic saves was the highlight of the game between Agbura FC and Akaba FC in the matchday four fixture, at the ongoing Bayelsa State Governor's Football Tournament tagged the Prosperity Cup. The striker who stood in for his goalkeepers who were unavailable for the game, saved four spot kicks for his team, Agbura FC, in the second game at the Kpansia centre, and won 5-4, after a one all draw at regulation time. It was a dramatic and intensive shootout that led to both teams taking eight spot kicks each, with Samuel Courage saving four of the kicks. The outcome saw Agbura FC progressed to the next round, despite fielding a natural player in between the sticks. Earlier at the same centre, Ogbolo FC pummeled St Patrick Church 4-0, to move to the next phase of the Nigeria's biggest grassroots football tournament. In other venues, Overcoming Lamb Assembly beat  Sunboro FC 1-0 at the BDGS centre, as ...

The Nigeria Premier League Club Managers Association, NPLCMA on Sunday held its inaugural conference at the Beni Apartments Hotels And Suite, Marina Lagos.  During the conference, the association agreed to continue with 20 Club Managers in the topflight with honorary members based on commitment and dedication towards the growth of the association.  The association is aimed at unlocking the league’s potentials through proper technical know-how and to form a good synergy with the league’s organizers while furthering the excellent relationship between head coaches in the division.  Understanding the importance of coaching courses, the association is to have a robust partnership with the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF on continuous and improved courses for the coaches.  The coaches also deliberated on the need to exhibit every act of professionalism by taking up jobs with proper documentation while shunning the syndrome of winning at all cost. The associati...

The defending champions of the Bayelsa Governor's Football Tournament, otherwise known as the Prosperity Cup, Eternal Grace Ministry, EGM FC, Monday, scored the highest number of goals in a single match in the history of the competition, after they humiliated and decimated first-timers, Faith Comprehensive School, Okutukutu fifteen unreplied goals (15-0). It was the first game on matchday 2 at the Opolo Center, and the winners of the last edition announced their intention to retain the title, as they went on a goal riot against the young, inexperienced but talented lads. EGM FC forward, Augustine Erasmus scored four, Ebiye Jeremiah scored a brace, Valentine Hamilton found the back of the net once, while winger, Ikpe Godknows is unarguably the highest goal scorer at the moment after scoring six goals. The secondary school levers tried so much to resist  the force of the defending champions, but the more they tried, the more they conceded goals. In the second game, Rose o...

Incumbent chairman of the Bayelsa State Football Association Bar Poubeni Ogun has been re-elected as chairman of the State Football body for the third term. Bar Ogun will pilot the affairs of the State Football Association in the next three years having successfully served the FA in the last six years. Barr Ogun defeated Mr Ebi Egbe popularly known as Moni Love for the second time in a row with twelve votes while Ebi Egbe got seven votes among the 19 delegates that cast their ballot. After several hours of debate and argument on the issue of chairman and vice chairman coming from the same local government, the election proceeded as incumbent vice chairman Fubara Owonaro emerged the winner over Mr. Tony Ogola with 14 votes against Ogola's one vote. Diseye Nwankwe the current secretary of the Bayelsa State Association was also re-elected as a board member in Bayelsa central with eight votes, Mr. Pius Ziprebo six votes, Chief Tywhite Deme three votes. In a remark, Represen...

Francis Joseph Flourish Sebastian Lone strike in the 57th of play in the encounter between Bayelsa Queens and FC Robo of Lagos at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta State  keeps   Bayelsa Queens chance of defending their title alive in the ongoing Nigerian Women Football League(Nwfl ) Super Six tournament. FC Robo started on the front foot as they seek to get a win that will put them in contention for the Super Six title and hard better possession in the early stages of the game and where almost rewarded with their early start after a free kick from Esther Oyenezide draw a flying save from Bayelsa Queens goalkeeper, Monle Omini in the 17th minutes. FC Robo continued to push forward for the early goal as Bayelsa Queens sat back and absorb the pressure while offering little going  forward. Despite Robo's better start they could not get a goal as the first half ended goalless. Defending Champions, Bayelsa Queens seized the initiative from FC Robo in the...

By Francis Joseph (FJM) Date: Wednesday, 7th June 2023 Venue: Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba Kick-off: 10am Defending Champions, Bayelsa Queens Football Club will on Wednesday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba in Group 'A' seek to defend their title as they take on Lagos based side, FC Robo in the early kick-off in the ongoing Super Six tournament. Bayelsa Queens qualified for the Super Six tournament by finishing second in Group A with 25 points, just a point below league Leaders, Delta Queens FC. The Prosperity Girls are definitely one of the favourite in this tournament as they are also the current holders of the Female Federation Cup and are already in this year's final which will be played in a later date. With the chance to represent the country again at the continental level at stake, the Yenagoa based side will hope to start on a winning note as they entertain FC Robo.  Bayelsa Queens struggled at times in the regular season to score goals but will be hopi...

Bayelsa State Football Association has inaugurated the appeals committee ahead of the June 9th Bayelsa State Football Association Elective Congress in Yenagoa. The State Football Association weeks ago during their annual General Assembly constituted the Electoral and Appeals Committee to the state elective congress headed by permanent Secretary Ministry of Special Project, Chief Patimidi Roland Tukuru. Chairman of the Bayelsa State Football Association, Bar Poubeni Ogun, represented by the Vice chairman of the state football association Mr Fubara Owonaro, charged the committee to discharge their duty in accordance with the Nigeria Football Federation guidelines. In response chairman of the Appeals Committee and retired Nigerian referee Chief Patimidi Roland Tukuru,assured all the contestants of a free and credible polls that would be devoid of violence and electoral malpractices, pointing out that he is committed in displaying electoral uprightness. Chief Tukuru commended t...

TOTAL PARTICIPATING TEAMS: 214 MATCH FIXTURES AND SCHEDULES OF THE PRELIMINARIES TO QUALIFY FOR SECOND ROUND (32 TEAMS). MATCH DAY ONE (1) 11-06-2023 BDGS CENTRE: (1 mc) Kpansia FC Vs Kadion Glamourous School 1pm (2mc) Akaba Town II Dynamics Vs Ogbo United, Ikibiri 3pm KPANSIA CENTRE: (1mc) Prime wash FC Vs Ogbolo FC, Ogu 1pm (2mc) Azikoro FC Vs St Patrick Church 3pm OLD ASSEMBLY QTR CENTRE: (1mc) Kpansia FC Vs Shegbelegbe FC 3pm  OPOLO CENTRE: (1mc) Baptist youth FC, Ovom Vs Ohaneze Fc 1pm (2mc) Zola FC, Azikoro Town Vs House of Hope School 3pm TOMBIA CENTRE: (1mc) Ogu Colombia United FC Vs Dreams Academy School 1pm (2mc) Kpansia FC II Vs Northern Strikers 3pm OGBOLOMA CENTRE:  (1mc) God’s Grace stars, Agbia Vs BYS School of Nursing 1pm (2mc) Polaku FC Vs Life Way Ministry 3pm IGBOGENE CENTRE: (1mc) Kpansia young Boys Vs GG Distinguished  Ass. 1pm (2mc) Socials Int ‘l FC, Biogbolo Vs Ebis FC, Biogbolo ...

The Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association have secured the services of Azeez Sholanke popularly known as Perform. Sholanke inclusion into the Bayelsa State Table Tennis team has made the State table tennis the strongest in Nigeria joining the likes of Samuel Boboye, Etim Orok, Matthew John, Isaac Boye, Nico Dekekeme and Blessing Kemala. Chairman of the Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association Mr Ama-Ebi Ebikpolade in an interview, said the addition of Azeez Sholanke has brought more force to the Bayelsa State team, stating that Sholanke is more at home due to closeness to the team. The South South Zonal Representative in the Board of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation noted that the performance of the team in the Alabi Memorial Table Tennis Championship in Osogbo, Osun State has made the team a team to beat in Nigeria. He explained that the attention of the association has moved to the World Table Tennis Championship coming in Lagos with Samuel Boboye, Etim Orok and Azeez Shola...

 _...He  has demonstrated proven expertise in governance , planning, and political leadership.._ . The organisers of the Bayelsa State Governor's Football Tournament christened the Prosperity Cup and have felicitated with Governor Douye Diri as he turns 64 years. The organizers in a statement by Director General of the tournament Mr Ono Akpe, described Governor Diri as an urbane, cerebral leader of great value and a committed progressive that is concerned about the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the State. According to the statement, the Prosperity Administration has made significant progress in infrastructure development, security, as well as, sports and the general welfare of citizens. The statement extols the sterling and legendary contributions of governor Diri to the sustainable development of sports in the state in the last three years of  his administration, stating that the governor's emergence is the best thing that has happened to the spo...