Rescue Bayelsa football with bailout money; state FA urges Dickson

NEDU MARK, Yenagoa

Chairman, Bayelsa state Football Association, Barrister Pobeni Ogun has tasked Governor Seriake Dickson to salvage the condition of football in the state by using part of the Federal Government’s bailout funds on the sport.

Barr.Ogun spoke in Yenagoa during the official unveiling of the mascot and logo of the state Governor’s Cup competition which held at the Banquet Hall, Government House.

The FA boss who was represented by a member of the association, Laye Julius, decried the state

of the state-owned Sampson Siasia Sports Complex which has forced football clubs from the state that are participating in national football competitions to play their matches in stadia in other states.

He commended the state government for organizing the competition to provide opportunity for youths to showcase and develop their talents.

Earlier in his speech, Director General of the competition, Cyril Akika said the essence of the football competition was to add value to the lives of all Bayelsans, and create opportunity for the world to come and explore Bayelsa.

‘’Beyond football, we want to create avenues for the world to come to Bayelsa. We want merchandize to come out of this competition.

“We want to have entertainment in our communities, and opportunities for Corporate Nigeria to come into Bayelsa,” Akika who is also the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Investment said.

Unveiling the mascot and the logo, Governor Dickson described the ceremony as significant in the quest to empower the youths through sports.

Dickson who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah, (rtd) noted that football has become a major source of wealth creation and instrument of diplomacy all over the world and urged the youths of the state to key into it.

He expressed the readiness of his administration to continue to invest in programmes aimed at developing the youths.

Our correspondent reports that 118 teams have been screened to participate in the competition, out of the 145 that registered.