Water Strikers on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, showed class in the ongoing Bayelsa Governor's Football Tournament as they tore New Saints apart with a commanding 6-0 win.
Water Strikers FC
Playing at the Town Brass centre, ruthless Water Strikers showed no mercy as they dismantled the hapless New Saints in an encounter that produced the first hat-trick of the tournament.
Lucky Baratuapre's hat-trick and his team's outstanding performance against New Saints is a clear message to the other participating teams, that they intend to go far in the tournament, tagged Prosperity Cup.
Baratuapre's goals in the 4th, 8th and 10th minutes of play and Kingboy Inanumo's effort in the 14th minute effectively put paid to any hope of New Saints making any meaningful progress in the competition as the first half ended 4-0.
A goal by Daniel Francis in the 66th minute and another by Ebinyon Kalio in the 69th minute of play completed the dismantling of New Saints.
In the second encounter at the same Twon Brass center, Location FC sent Canaan FC to the cleaners with a 3-1 win to secure qualification to the next round of the tournament.
Otonye Oscar netted a brace while Dennis Albert made it three in the 41st minute of play. Felix Wisdom's 90th minute effort was too little too late as it was not enough to save Canaan FC. Kurotee FC were saved the hassles of this round as they were drawn on bye.
At the Nembe centre in Nembe Local Government Area, Jeremiah Odedia's brace against Ultimate Lakers FC in the 60th and 80th minutes was enough to catapult Okoroba FC to the next round of the showpiece, unarguably the biggest grassroots football fiesta in the country.
In the second match, Nembe City brushed Fisherman's Sons FC aside by two goals to nil. Goals from Ayebatari Abraham and Ayebaeriworio Kingsley in the 29th and 63rd minutes was all Nembe City needed to book a place in the next round.
Hostilities continued on Thursday at the Twon Brass centre, where Agbor FC will entertain Nim Sam FC at 1:00p.m. while Bright Light FC will slug it out with Odio by 3:00p.m. Friday, March 14, will witness a battle between Igoni FC and Egweama FC at the Twon Brass centre.
Teams from Ekeremor and Sagbama local government areas will take to the pitch this weekend in continuation of Nigeria's biggest grassroots football spectacle.
In the Sagbama centre, it will be Idialu FC doing battle with Agbere FC in the early kick-off while Odoni FC will host Ebedebiri FC in the second fixture of the centre.
Matches in the Ogobiri and Ebedebiri centres in Sagbama Local Government Area have been scheduled for Monday, March 17, 2025.
In the Ekeremor centre, Samba FC will entertain Ayamasa FC at 1.00p.m. on Saturday, March 15, while Crusaders FC will lay ambush for Isampou FC in the 3.00p.m. fixture.
At the Egbema Angalabiri centre, Azagbene Federated will be up against Tara Lions FC while the second match will see Clough Creek FC doing battle Tamu Ndoro.
