Gov Diri splashes N14m on Bayelsa Utd, redeems bus pledge

An elated Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa, has doled out N14 million to the state-owned football club, Bayelsa United, for their Sunday’s victory over visiting AS Ashanti Golden Boys of Guinea in the preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup.

The match played at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, in Yenagoa, saw the youthful Bayelsa team winning by four goals to two.

Bayelsa United had in August won the National league, after defeating Nasarawa United, in Benin City.

Before the game on Sunday, Diri had pledged to handsomely encourage the players if they emerged victorious, saying that the team would get N10 million for a win and N1 million for any goal scored, a promise he redeemed immediately the game ended.

Diri, who congratulated the club for the victory, urged the players not to relent but to be spurred to more victories.

Also on Sunday, the governor presented a brand new Coaster bus to the team in fulfilment of an earlier pledge he made at the official reception for the team, after they had won the 2021 AITEO Cup in August in Benin.

He made the presentation to the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Dr. Daniel Igali, and the management of the club, at Government House, Yenagoa, before the Confederation Cup game.

Diri, who said the state was proud of its teams for bringing glory to Bayelsa, added: “We made this commitment to our two club sides, Bayelsa United and Bayelsa Queens. Today I’m happy that it is being fulfilled.

“Bayelsa United has done us proud by going continental. We hope and believe that by next year they will qualify for the professional league.

“So, let me on behalf of the Prosperity Government hand over these keys to the Commissioner for Sports and the management of Bayelsa United.”

Speaking after receiving the keys, the sports commissioner, Igali, said the sports family in the state was extremely delighted at the governor, for fulfilling his earlier pledge on the bus.

Igali noted that with the governor’s kind gesture, the state would not only be known for sports but also for what it has done for its teams.

The sports commissioner added that the official presentation of the Bayelsa Queens’ bus would soon be done.