Ahead of the seventh season of Nigeria’s premier grassroots football competition, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, popularly known as the Prosperity Cup, key sports stakeholders have commended Governor Douye Diri for significantly increasing the prize money for this year’s event.
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A total of 50 million naira will be up for grabs across the men’s, women’s, and para soccer tournaments, with the registration process now officially open.
In separate interviews with the Prosperity Cup media team, stakeholders expressed high expectations for an exciting tournament, emphasizing its impact on grassroots football.
Zonal Vice President of the Youths Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON), Mr. Kali Gwegwe, praised the increased prize money, highlighting its role in boosting the tournament’s credibility and competitiveness.
The former chairman of Bayelsa United lauded the state government and the organizers for this gesture, which he described as a testament to Governor Diri’s passion for sports development.
Similarly, former Bayelsa United technical adviser, Diepreye Teibowei, emphasized the tournament’s value in talent discovery and community unity. He noted that the Prosperity Cup has, over the years, fostered harmony across Bayelsa State and predicted that this season would showcase the best of grassroots football. Teibowei also commended Governor Diri and tournament Director General Ono Akpe for their commitment to talent scouting and development.
Veteran sports journalist and former Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Mr. Loveday Herbert, described the increased prize money as a game-changer, predicting heightened participation.
He highlighted the debut of the NUJ/SWAN team as a major publicity boost for the competition. Herbert further stated that the tournament offers grassroots coaches a vital platform for talent discovery, which is crucial for the growth of Bayelsa’s state-owned football teams.
Another sports journalist, Tommie Amaegbe, celebrated the increase in prize money, stating that it has generated excitement among grassroots teams and will likely encourage the formation of more female teams.
He noted that this added incentive will motivate participating teams to strive for success, particularly at the local government level, where the finals will bring football closer to the people.
Stakeholders agree that the Prosperity Cup continues to stand as a beacon of grassroots football development in Bayelsa State, with the increased prize money marking a significant step forward for the tournament.
