Winners
By Christian Ogbonna
Yenagoa, June 4, 2018 (NAN) The Pereturogbene community football team of Ekeremor Local Government Area (LGA) of Bayelsa have won the State Governor’s Cup Competition tagged “Restoration Cup Season 2” and the N5 million prize money.
The team defeated Opu-Nembe Community of Nembe LGA 3-1 in the final match to emerge champions of the competition which featured 150 rural-based football clubs in Bayelsa.
During the final match at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex on Sunday in Yenagoa, Pereturogbene Community dominated the first and second halfs to beat their counterparts.
Earlier in the third-place match, the Toru-Orua team from Sagbama LGA defeated Otuesiga, Ogbia LGA 2-1.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the second position winners, Opu-Nembe, won the N3 million prize money, while N2 million went to Toru-Orua team for the third-place position.
The fourth-place finishers, Otuesiga, won N500,000, as well as N100, 000 for the Best Goalkeeper, Highest Goal Scorer and the Most Valuable Player each.
Speaking after the final matches, Gov. Seriake Dickson commended all the participants and described them as “winners”.
He pointed out that the competition was not all about winning but showcasing the numerous talents that abound in the state.
Dickson, who pledged commitment to sports promotion, called on oil companies and individuals in the state to key into his administration’s plans.
He said his government was committed to promoting and driving sports development in the eight local government areas (LGAs) of the state.
“I commend the sponsors and all the players because the game is about making friends and building skills from the grassroots and I must say that everyone in the competition is a winner.
“The competition is aimed at taking the youths off the streets and reduce criminal activities. We will continue to do more.
“The next plan is to organise the Inter-LGA League in the state by July. After this, we will hold an Inter-LGA wrestling competition,” the governor said.
Ono Akpe, the Director of the Competition, also commended those who helped to make the event a success.
Akpe expressed optimism that the competition has opened great opportunities to talented footballers in the state.
He said the discovered talents would be taken to the Samson Siasia Football Academy in Abuja for further training.
“After the training in Abuja, they will be moving to Europe,” the competition director said.
Dauneighan Peremobowei, captain of the Pereturogbene community team, said their emergence as champions was God’s will and determination.
“We thank the state governor for making the competition a reality for the youths,” he said. (NAN)
OOC/AAB/OLAL
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(Edited By Adeboye Ajayi and Olawale Alabi)