Stakeholders in the sports sector in Bayelsa State have rated the Governor Douye Diri-led Prosperity Administration high in the area of sports development as it marks five years in office.
The stake holders were also full of praise for the government for the developmental policies it is putting in place to take sports in the state to greater heights.
A veteran sports journalist and retired Director, Ministry of Information, Bayelsa State, Chris Odi, who spoke to our correspondent Promise Okotoko, described the achievements of the state government as exceptional, noting that the sports sector has experienced unprecedented improvement in the last five years.
Chris Odi commended the Prosperity Administration for consistently sponsoring school sports, thus enabling young athletes who are in schools in the state to participate at local and international schools competitions, where such young athletes have given a good account of themselves.
According to Odi, the government is equally investing in sports infrastructure and facilities, adding that such investments are manifesting in the new 25,000-sitting capacity stadium being constructed at Igbogene, the wrestling gym at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Ovom while facilities include the basketball courts at St. Jude's Girls Secondary School, Amarata and Bishop Dimeari Grammar School, Ovom, Yenagoa.
Basketball courts will also be built at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation Camp at Boro Town and the Sports Academy, Asoama, which will also receive improvement in terms of sports infrastructure.
Continuing, the retired director mentioned government's plan to construct a mini-stadium each in Bayelsa Central and Bayelsa West Senatorial Districts, since Bayelsa East already has one in Nembe. The mini-stadium for Bayelsa West is expected to be cited at Ebedebiri community while the one for Bayelsa Central will be at Biogbolo.
Also speaking, a renowned sports journalist in Nigeria, Loveday Herbert, expressed admiration for the Prosperity Administration for reviving sports in the state, which has put the state firmly on the sporting map of the world.
Meanwhile, Super Four Sports reporter of the year, Hananeel Jackson attributed the relative successes achieved by the Prosperity Administration to the deliberate policies of the government as well as the appointment of competent people into leadership positions, who have taken the state sports to New heights that saw the state coming second in the last National Sports Festival held in Asaba.
Also contributing, a seasoned sports analyst, Mablas Akpuluma Jr., lauded the government for engaging the youths through grassroots sports tournaments such as the Governor's Football Tournament, unarguably the biggest grassroots football competition in Nigeria.
