Established in 2000, Bayelsa United FC commands cult followership in Yenagoa. Its fans will do anything to promote the club and see to its growth and progress. While majority of its fans are gentle and calm, there are a handful of fanatical supporters.
The club has had a chequered history, having its ups and downs. At some point in time the club played its home matches at Oghara Township Stadium in Delta State but returned to base after the Samson Siasia Stadium, its home ground, was rehabilitated in 2014.
The club won the Nigerian Premier League in 2010 and represented the country in the prestigious CAF Champions League. The club however suffered relegation in 2015. It languished in the lower division for seven years. While in the lower rungs, Bayelsa United won the Aiteo Cup in 2021 and represented the country in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Bayelsa United narrowly missed promotion in 2021 but bounced back to the elite division in 2022 under the leadership of Ebiki Timitimi. It achieved the feat after spanking Cynosure FC 2-0 at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.
It has however not been easy for the club since its return to the elite league. The club struggled to remain afloat both in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons. Last season it escaped relegation after beating Bendel Insurance 2-0 in Benin on the last day of the season.
After struggling to avoid relegation for two consecutive seasons, Bayelsa State Government, owners of the club, felt enough was enough and that something needed to be done to stem the downward slide of the club. The solution was to sign some players to beef up the squad and also secure the services of a quality coach.
The messiah was Coach Ladan Bosso, who was making his second missionary journey to the club, having handled the Prosperity Boys between 2012 and 2014. Bosso has also managed Wikki Tourists, Abia Warriors, El-Kanemi Warriors and Kano Pillars. He was a two-time coach of the national Under-20 team, the Flying Eagles. Just before the start of the new season, 10 players were unveiled to the media.
Bosso's appointment as Head Coach was received with mixed feelings. While some hailed his appointment, others felt he was not the man to deliver Bayelsa United. Some derisively asked what was it he forgot in Bayelsa United that he was coming back to collect, especially against the background that there was nothing to show for his first outing with the club.
In the brief unveiling ceremony of Bosso at the Samson Siasia Stadium, the state Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo spelt it out clearly to Bosso that it was because government did not want a repeat of the poor spate of results of the last two seasons that he was being engaged. Bosso was charged to improve the lot of the club.
Bayelsans looked forward to the new season with cautious optimism. So much was expected from the technical crew. After about five matches, the results were not coming in and again, the deputy governor, Ewhrudjakpo warned that with all the club has got, the coaching crew has no reason to fail. Ewhrudjakpo threatened that if the club went on relegation, it would be disbanded.
Ten matches down the road, Bayelsa United are sitting precariously in the 19th position on the log, with just 10 points. United has won just two matches, drawn four and lost four. Disturbed by this development, the state government, through the Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr Daniel Igali, has issued the coaching crew a two-match ultimatum, warning that if the team failed to win both matches, the coaches would be fired and that the players that are not good enough for the team would be shown the way out.
Bayelsa United would be away to second-placed Rivers United on Sunday, November 10 while they will be hosting Katsina United who are currently occupying the 12th position, next weekend.
Reacting to the two-match ultimatum, a sports pundit, the Lakeside tactician said, "I believe this ultimatum will create a new drive among the players to push themselves to the limit. They have to play for their manager, they have to play for the team as well as their survival.
"In all the ultimatum is a step in the right direction on the part of government. If the coaching crew fail to get the results, that is enough reason to show them the exit door".
On his part, the Sports Editor of Yenagoa-based New Waves, Loveday Herbert said, "It will be very difficult to say the coaching crew would scale the hurdle because Rivers United FC will be a tough nut to crack in Port Harcourt while the next game will be in Yenagoa, which could be an advantage to improve. So, Coach Ladan Bosso surviving is 50-50".
As Bayelsa United travel to Port Harcourt to take on Rivers United, the big question on the lips of the club's supporters is: would Coach Ladan Bosso survive? Can he scale through the two matches? That is looking most unlikely. Is it the end of the road for Bosso? I hope not.
