The draw for season seven of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football fiesta, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, tagged the Prosperity Cup, has been completed in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The draw, held at the main bowl of the Samson Siasia Stadium, had representatives and officials from various participating teams in attendance, alongside key figures in the sports sector, who witnessed the ceremony.
Prosperity Cup Season Seven will see 255 teams, comprising 231 in the men’s category and 24 in the women’s category, battling for supremacy in the tournament across 25 centers in the eight local government areas.
Defending champions Ogboinbiri FC will kick off their title defense at the Oporoma center in Southern Ijaw, facing Ikianbiri FC, Ludoun FC, Oyoma FC, Amatuburu FC, and Otuan FC.
Nembe City, last year’s finalists, will compete at the Nembe City center against Respect FC, Ultimate Lakers, Etie FC, Okoroba FC, Fantuo FC, Tbbe FC, and Fisherman Son FC, while former champions Krusaders FC of Peretorugbene will confront Samba Boys FC, Ayamasa FC, and Isampou Town at the Ekeremor Town center.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists and the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (NUJ/SWAN) team will aim to dominate their opponents when they face Odi United, Sabagreia Boys, Sampou FC, Kings Warriors of Igbedi, and Creek FC at the Ekpuwari-Opokuma center in Kolokuma Opokuma Local Government Area. Ogbia champions Mover’s FC of Otuasega will take on Milcom FC, Otuoke Pain FC, Emeyal 2 FA, Rising Stars FC of Oruma, Chief Street FC of Otuokpoti, Kolo 3 FC, Global FC, and Jerry FC of Ogbia Town at the Imiringi center, while 2022 champions Eternal Grace Ministry (EGM) FC were drawn at the Ogboloma center in Yenagoa LGA.
Director General of the tournament, Mr. Ono Akpe, in his remarks, urged the players of the various participating teams to perform their duties with utmost responsibility, noting that apart from the huge prize, the tournament would feature a man of the match award in every game.
He mentioned that the man of the match award would commence on Monday in the tournament’s opening fixture, with the prize money paid to the individual’s account at the end of the game.
He noted that all center coordinators, coaches, and the media would collaborate with the scouting team led by Perela Aboroson to identify outstanding players across the different centers.
The DG hinted that winners at the local government level would receive one million naira, with five hundred thousand naira for the runner-up, adding that efforts are ongoing to secure more financial support for the teams in the tournament.
Mr. Akpe explained that allowances would be given to teams that qualified for the round of 32 in the competition, a new development in the tournament. He emphasized that there would be a local government selected team to identify players whose teams exited the tournament in the early stages but showed promise.
He appreciated the governor, Senator Douye Diri, and Deputy Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, and the Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr. Daniel Igali, for their significant investment in the development of sports.
