Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa state, has expressed his desire for the state-owned football club, Bayelsa United, to perform well in the incoming new Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season after barely avoiding the drop last campaign.
The governor expressed hope that the Diri pre-season tournament which is to kick-off on Monday, August 12th will afford the team the needed preparation for the long season ahead.
Chairman of the Central Organizing Committee of the Tournament, Mr. Ono Akpe, stated this while addressing a press conference in Yenagoa ahead of the tournament.
Mangrovepen.ng gathered that Eight (8) teams are scheduled to participate in the tournament viz: Bayelsa United, Abia Warriors, Akwa United, Sunshine Stars, Kwara United, Insurance of Benin, Rivers United, and Krusaders Feeders.
Akpe during the press conference pointed out that the primary reason for the tournament was to avoid the repeat of last season, where the state-owned team barely avoided the drop.
According to him, all the participating teams have officially confirmed their readiness to feature in the tournament.
He maintained that the tournament’s initial plan was for six teams but the governor made it open to eight teams, so as to accommodate the Prosperity Cup team, The Krusaders.
Clearing the air on why Krusaders Feeders FC was included rather than the 2024 Prosperity Cup champions, Ogboinbiri FC, the DG explained that the team is an assemblage of players from Ogboinbiri FC, Krusaders Feeders FC, and other exceptional players who were selected at this year’s governor’s cup.
He added that Krusaders Feeders FC was just a mere nomenclature.
He appreciated Diri and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the commissioner for Sports Development, Dr Daniel Igali, for investing in the development of sports.
Vice Chairman, Central Organizing Committee and Tournament Director, Mr. Perela Aboroson, revealed that the tournament would be played in two groups of “A” and “B” with teams expected to arrive on the 11th of August while the tournament proper will commence on Monday 12th through the 18th of August, 2024.
He explained that the tournament will have fourteen matches with the winners of the two groups locking horns in the final match, while the first runner up from the group will play in the third place match.
He said there will be four games in
each day and a resting day will be observed on Tuesday, while Wednesday will witness another round of matches.
Aboroson asserted that the final and the third place matches of the tournament will take place on Sunday at the Samson Siasia Stadium, stating that all the participating teams would receive five hundred thousand naira (#500.000.00) each as an appearance fee, the visiting teams will enjoy free accommodation.
In his remarks, commissioner for sports development, Dr. Daniel Igali, represented by Assistant Director Human Resource Management in the ministry, Mr. Mike Ede-Alakere, remarked that the essence of the tournament was to give Bayelsa United the opportunity to test their players before the NPFL kick-off date.
Mr. Ede-Alakere stated that apart from giving the NPFL teams a platform to know their strength and weakness, it is also an avenue to market players who took part in the just concluded prosperity cup in order for them to be captured by some league sides.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee, Mr. Ebi Avi, in an interview welcomed the idea of the government to organize another national event months after hosting the Nigeria Women Premier Football League Super Six.
He stressed that the tourney would create an opportunity to expose more Bayelsa youths.
The Douye Diri pre season tournament is sponsored by the Ministry of Sports Development and the Bayelsa State Football Association, in collaboration with the Prosperity Cup organizers and Red Sapphire, a sports management consultant.
