The Director of Sports, Bayelsa State Sports Council, Mr. Bibowei Lambert, has said the sustained support of Governor Douye Diri remains pivotal to Bayelsa State’s growing competitiveness in sports.
Lambert disclosed this in Calabar while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the South-South zonal elimination for the maiden National Intermediate Games.
According to him, the state’s participation and qualification of teams for the national finals in Lagos would not have been possible without the commitment and backing of the state government.
He commended Governor Diri for his intentional investment in sports, noting that deliberate sponsorship and development remain critical to talent discovery and to providing athletes with opportunities to compete at the highest level.
“Without the support of Governor Douye Diri, it would be very difficult for Bayelsa State to compete favourably with its peers in the sporting arena. The governor’s intentional investment in sports has continued to provide the needed platform for our athletes and teams to compete at different levels,” Lambert said.
He explained that Bayelsa’s ability to compete favourably with other states in the South-South zone reflects the steady and consistent growth of sports in the state.
Lambert attributed the progress to the deliberate attention being paid to sports development by Governor Diri, his deputy, Dr. Peter Akpe, and the Commissioner for Sports.
He noted that sports remains deeply entrenched across the South-South region, making the zone highly competitive and providing a veritable platform for athletes to test their abilities against some of the best talents from neighbouring states.
The sports director also lauded the quality of competition at the zonal elimination, saying participating states have lived up to expectations in terms of performance and commitment.
He described the exercise as a healthy rivalry that would ultimately advance grassroots sports development and aid the discovery of athletes capable of representing the country in the future.
Lambert expressed satisfaction with the conduct of athletes and officials, adding that their discipline and sportsmanship have contributed significantly to the success of the elimination exercise so far.
He thanked the Cross River State Government and the organisers for providing a conducive environment for the competition, describing Cross River as a good host where the Bayelsa contingent has enjoyed relative peace and a positive atmosphere in its quest to qualify more teams for the national championship.
