The Bayelsa State Government has reaffirmed its partnership with Foreign Scouts, a deal that will provide a global avenue for young footballers in the state to showcase their skills.
Reaffirmation of Partnership
The Acting Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhurdjakpo, through the Commissioner for Sports Development, Honourable Daniel Igali, made the affirmation on Friday when renowned international scouts and coaches from around the world paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Yenagoa.
Welcoming the Scouts
Honourable Igali, who officially welcomed the scouts to Bayelsa, stated that the move was borne out of the desire of Governor Douye Diri to create opportunities for players in the state to develop their skills and gain exposure for global exploits.
According to Igali, Bayelsa State is eager to take its rightful place on the global football stage as it inspires young generations to be discovered.
Commissioner Igali’s Remarks
“I welcome all of you to Bayelsa on behalf of His Excellency, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, and Acting Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhurdjakpo. You were here in August, and we saw the length of work you did, and we were very impressed. We also adequately were briefed by Ono Akpe, and today it has been confirmed that five of our very young athletes are on the verge of going to Europe to ply their trade.
“The goal of every young player is to get to the zenith of their careers. Oftentimes, it is such opportunities through the Governor’s Prosperity Cup tournament and your very keen eyes that some whom otherwise wouldn’t have gotten that opportunity are now able to travel abroad. We pray that they will be good ambassadors and that they are good enough to pursue their professional careers.
“So, on behalf of His Excellency, Governor Douye Diri, and my direct supervisor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, I want to assure you that you have partners in the Bayelsa State Government who are very desirous of having a partnership, as we want to use sports as a vehicle to lift people out of poverty,” Igali said.
Commendation from the Scouts
The Sports Director OTP Finland and General Coordinator of the Scouting Programme, Hilary Azodo, in his opening remarks, commended the Bayelsa State Government for the wide arms of friendship and partnership in putting Bayelsa State football on the map through innovative ideas, passion, and dedication.
“Before I start, I would like to thank the people of Bayelsa for having us here once again. As Wanada said, ‘When the road is good, you make a journey the second time,’ and we can see that the partnership is yielding fruits.
“I want to thank the Bayelsa State Government for this grassroots sports initiative, the Commissioner, the Director General Ono Akpe, and the Deputy Governor. Bayelsa has been so quiet and peaceful—no rancor, no problem. We are very pleased,” Hilary noted.
Scouting Programme Objectives
Earlier, the Director General of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, Ono Akpe, intimated the State Government through the honourable commissioner the reason for the scouting programme.
“This scouting team is here to identify outstanding talents specifically for the January transfer window with the belief that, through the support of the Sports Ministry, the Deputy Governor, and the Governor, identified players will go to Europe again for trials and the opportunity to play professional football abroad.
“They are here with the interest to identify partnership opportunities with Bayelsa United, Bayelsa Queens, and of course the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament. We want to thank the Governor and the Deputy Governor for the support, and we believe that with more support, we will take our boys to greener pastures,” Ono Akpe said.
Meeting Attendees
The meeting was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports Development, Bayelsa State, Mrs. Grace Alagoa, alongside high-ranked staff of the ministry.
Conclusion of the Scouting Programme
Meanwhile, the 3-day Scouting Programme came to a close on Friday with renowned scouts and coaches from around the world, including: Ibrahim Can, the Sporting Director of Adanyspor of Turkey; Fred French, Vice President FC Quomi of Malta; Naujot Singh Brar, X-One Agency of Norway; and Turan Aykut, Adabademin FC of Turkey.
