The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr. Daniel Igali, has expressed satisfaction with the growth and expansion the Governor's Football Tournament, tagged Prosperity Cup, has experienced in the last couple of years.
Dr Igali made the assertion while speaking at the closing ceremony of the 3rd Prosperity Cup coaching clinic held at the NUJ Press Centre, Yenagoa.
The commissioner, who was represented by the Director of Sports, Bayelsa State Sports Council, Sir Braveman Wodi said he is particularly thrilled by the introduction of women and the para-soccer version of the competition.
Dr Igali said, "Year in, year out, the competition has been having a lot of innovations and expansion and I am excited about that.
"The organisers have been very resourceful, bringing in the female category and the para-soccer. Today we are here to witness the coaching clinic for coaches participating in the tournament. This is an innovation.
"And of course, there is the scouting component of the tournament which has discovered a lot of young talents. A good number of them are now with various club sides in the country. Some are outside the shores of the country while others are on the verge of travelling out. If you consider the opportunities the competition has thrown up, I think it is a win-win situation and I am excited".
He charged grassroots football coaches in Bayelsa State, who the programme was designed for, to replicate what they have learnt at the four-day coaching clinic in the discharge of their duties at their various clubs.
He charged the coaches to translate what they have learnt at the programme into practice when the tournament commences at the various local government areas, pointing out that beyond winning trophies and prize money, the tournament has positively impacted the youths in the state.
Dr Igali, who noted that every great player in the world is a product of a great coach, expressed confidence that the coaches would give back what they have learnt in the last four days of the exercise.
He lauded the Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation, Augustine Eguavoen and his team for giving grassroots coaches in the state a new direction that is capable of making them better gaffers in the future.
Also adding his voice, former member of CAF Medical Committee, Dr. Peter Singabele said he is impressed with the way the organisers of the competition, have added innovations to the tournament, believed to be the biggest grassroots football competition in the country.
According to Dr Singabele, who is the Proprietor of Crusaders FC of Peretorugbene, "This coaching clinic is a great innovation to the Prosperity Cup. There is also the scouting programme of the tournament where we have foreign scouts. A lot of innovative ideas have been packaged into the Prosperity Cup. The multiplier effect of all of these is great. I want to thank the D-G, Ono Akpe and his team for the great job".
Describing coaches as key actors in the business of football, Dr Singabele expressed confidence that the just-concluded programme would bring the best out of the grassroots coaches.
Director General of the tournament, Mr Ono Akpe in a remark, asserted that the coaching clinic is one of the greatest things to have happened to grassroots coaches in the state, adding that the programme is in line with the philosophy of the governor of making the youths self-reliant.
