It was an eventful week in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, as the 5th Governor Diri International Scouting Program/Coaching Clinic climaxed in a pulsating final match involving 27 players screened from over 500 players selected during the preliminary round of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football tournament tagged the Prosperity Cup.
The week-long event had over 10 foreign scouts from Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, and Turkey alongside the Nigeria U-20 coach and President of Nigeria Coaches Association Mr. Ladan Bosso, and other former internationals invited for the program.
The Scouting Program/Clinic kicked off on Monday 1st July, 2024 with a medical checkup for the coaches and other participants before the start of the coaching clinic which lasted two days at the Golden Tulip Hotel and Resort, Onopa-Yenagoa.
Grassroots coaches in the State were equipped with contemporary coaching techniques from the scouts ahead of the Round of 32 matches which resumed Sunday the 7th July, 2024 across designated centers.
Some of the coaches who spoke to newsmen thanked the organizers of the tournament for the initiative, saying that the clinic has impacted on their careers positively and are ready to give back to their players when the Round of 32 matches commence.
Organizers of the tournament led by the Director General, Mr. Ono Akpe, and the international scouts visited the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, at the Government House to inform him of the progress of the program and commiserate with him on the death of his elder brother, Dr Jonathan Ewhrudjakpo.
In his remark, Ewhrudjakpo called for collaboration between organizers of the Prosperity Cup/international scouts and the Bayelsa State Sports Academy, Asoama in order to utilize the facility to its potential.
He stressed that the state government was ready to give more refresher courses to local coaches to become better gaffers.
While appreciating the organizers of the tournament for the success recorded in the competition, the deputy governor remarked that the tournament has come to stay, describing the competition as a powerful vehicle for discovering talents at the grassroots.
Two of the scouts, Hilary Azodo, the CEO OTP Finland and Glenn Stahl, a UEFA Pro Licensed Coach expressed their gratitude to the Bayelsa state government for giving the youths a platform to realize their potential.
The international scouts equally presented branded OTP of Finland jerseys to the Governor, Senator Douye Diri, the deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo and the Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr Daniel Igali.
Meanwhile, the draws for the 2nd edition of the female version of the Prosperity Cup was held at the Samson Siasia Stadium with the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Sports Development, Grace Alagoa, as the Special Guest of Honour and the scouts doing the honour of picking the draws.
Last year Golden Sun Sports Club defeated Crystal Stars Football Club 3-0 to emerge champions of the Female Edition.
This year 22 teams registered for the spectacle which were divided into two groups “A” and “B” for the draws. Over five hundred players will jostle for glory in the female edition of the Prosperity Cup with the spectacle kicking off on Sunday 7th, July, 2024 in their respective centers.
The organizers of the tournament equally presented “etibo” a native Ijaw attire to all the scouts which further portrayed the hospitable nature of the hosts and project the culture of the Ijaw people.
Another highpoint of the draws saw fifty grassroots coaches issued certificates for participating in the 5th Governor Douye Diri International Scouting Program/Coaching Clinic at the Samson Siasia Stadium.
The scouting exercise was wrapped up with a novelty match between organizers of the Prosperity Cup and the international scouts at the Doncort Hotel 5 a-side pitch which ended four all draw with a state lawmaker Hon. Felix Bonny-Ayah adding his name to the score sheet and Dr. Igali scoring a brace.
Former Lithuanian national team goalkeeper, Malina Mindaugas won the Man of Match award with his heroic saves.
His counterpart at the other end and Director General of the Prosperity Cup fared no less as he also stood as a Rock of Gilbratar between the attacking scouts and his net.
As the Prosperity Cup resumes with R32 matches expectations are high in every camp with all eyes on the trophy and fans equally excited about watching their darling teams express themselves beautifully on the pitch.
The grand finale of the tournament is billed for Saturday 20th of July, 2024.
