Bayelsa United Football Club have won the 2024 Governor Douye Diri pre-season football tournament after beating Bendel Insurance of Benin, 7-6 on penalties.
The Yenagoa-based side, who played a 1-1 draw with Bendel Insurance at regular time, had to depend on penalties to clinch the trophy and the prize money during the 8-team tournament at the match played inside Sampson Siasia Sports Stadium.
Earlier, Akwa United Football Club of Uyo defeated another NPFL side, Kwara United Football Club of Ilorin 4-2 on penalties to win the third-place match after a goalless draw at regulation time.
Loveday Saro gave Bayelsa United the lead on 28 minutes from Samuel Okon’s left-footed cross, but Bendel Insurance responded immediately from Meyiwa Oritseweyinmi who meandered his way inside the danger zone to find the back of the net for the Benin Arsenals.
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Champions, Bayelsa United went home with N1.5 million, second-placed Bendel Insurance got N1,000,000 while Akwa received N500,000 for third place finish.
Speaking during the final, Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri, represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said his administration would continue to promote the development of sports.
He noted that the only way to engage the youths in the state was to invest in education and sports, stating that his administration is not worried about the energy channelled towards the sports sector.
He announced that the governor Douye Diri pre-season tournament would become an annual competition that would prepare Bayelsa United ahead of every season describing Bayelsa as the rallying point for sports in Nigeria.
In his remarks, the Chairman Central Organizing Committee, Mr. Ono Akpe, said he is confident that Bayelsa United would have a fruitful season in the NPFL, noting that the essence of the tournament has been achieved.
He explained that apart from preparing Bayelsa United for the new season, the competition has also exposed more local players to some NPFL teams and disclosed that three players scouted from the 2024 Prosperity Cup would be travelling to Turkey and two to Finland in the coming days to professional careers.
Also, Bayelsa United coach Ladan Bosso said the tournament has helped him to know the readiness of his team as well as to know his preferred starting eleven.
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