Director General of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football competition, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament christened Prosperity Cup, Mr. Ono Akpe, has said the state government’s investment in the Bayelsa Starlets Academy is beginning to yield dividends.
Mr. Akpe stated this while reacting to the triumph of Bayelsa Starlets at the Nationwide League One (NLO) U-19 Youth League held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The Yenagoa Centre of the youth league featured six teams.
The Prosperity Cup DG described the victory as the beginning of greater achievements for the academy, which is affiliated to FC Barcelona of Spain.
He said the feat was not accidental but a product of divine providence and months of intensive camping that began in May, charging the players to see the win as a stepping stone to greater heights.
“The achievement by the Starlets is indicative that government’s investment in the team has started germinating. It is also a reflection of the avalanche of talents in the state,” he said.
Akpe lauded Governor Douye Diri, his deputy, Dr. Peter Akpe, and the Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr. Daniel Igali, for their support in ensuring that youths in the state realise their potential.
While noting that building a world-class academy is not a three-month project, he said the NLO U-19 victory had boosted the morale of players and coaches ahead of the visit of FC Barcelona officials in September.
He disclosed that 60 players selected from the just-concluded U-15 tournament would be screened, with a target of having 35 players each in the U-19 and U-15 squads, in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Spanish giants.
His words: “We want to show the governor that his support for us in bringing about the Barcelona partnership was not a mistake. This is evident in winning the first major tournament we have participated in. It is not a state league but a national league for this region.”
Bayelsa Starlets emerged champions of the Yenagoa Centre with 12 points from five matches, winning four and losing one to Bayelsa United Feeders, who finished second with 10 points.
Starlets thrashed Dolphins ACA FC of Port Harcourt 3-0 in their last game, courtesy of goals from Jude Onisoya (73rd minute), Christopher James (78th) and Joel Udake (92nd), while Bayelsa United Feeders were held to a 0-0 draw by Obago FC of Port Harcourt
