Yenagoa—Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has rewarded sportsmen and women and coaches from the state who participated in different competitions recently.
Olympic silver medalist, who won gold in wrestling at the Commonwealth Games, Blessing Oborududu, and sprinter Timma Godbless, who got gold in 4×100 relay for Nigeria in the African Senior Athletics Championship in Mauritius were among recipients of the governor’s gesture.
Among others were teenage table tennis sensation, Samuel Boboye, who won two gold medals for Nigeria in the Africa U-19 championship in Tunisia as well as
Bayelsa Queens, champions of the African Female Champions League WAFU Zone B tournament in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.
According the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, Diri while receiving the athletes and footballers inside the executive council chambers of the Government House in Yenagoa on Tuesday, said they made Nigeria and the state proud.
The governor noted that the performances of the athletes have placed Bayelsa prominently on the global map of sports, saying the state will reap rich rewards from their effort if they aim for more success.
Diri assured that his administration will continue to play its part in supporting sportsmen and women to enable them bring more glory to the state.
The state’s helmsman also assured Bayelsa Queens that his government will do everything to ensure the team had a hitch-free participation in the Africa Female Champions League holding Morocco.
He announced a reward of N2.5m for Commonwealth Games gold medalists, N1.5m for silver medalists while bronze medalists got N1m.
Similarly, coaches of gold-winning athletes got N2m each while their silver and bronze medal counterparts received N1m and N800,000 respectively.
Non-medal participants at the games also got N300,000 each.
African Athletics Championship gold medalist, Godbless, got N700,000 while Boboye received N500,000.
The governor also motivated Bayelsa Queens with N10m in addition to $1,000 each for the players and $3,000 for the three goals the team scored in a particular game.
His words: “We are indeed very proud of you. You went out representing not only our state but also Nigeria. You left no one in doubt that you were truly representing Nigeria.
“The people of Bayelsa are holding their heads high because of your sterling performances. Continue on that path. Success is difficult to sustain. People are already planning to overthrow you.
“Your state government will make every necessary arrangement for your travel and sustenance. Go to Morocco and conquer. If you deliver, my pronouncement will be more than what I have done today.”
Earlier, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Daniel Igali, thanked the governor for his support for the development of sports in the state, saying it is largely responsible for the successes Bayelsa has had in recent times.
