ADDRESS BY MR ONO K. AKPE, DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE GOVERNOR SERIAKE DICKSON FOOBALL TOURNAMENT 2018, TAGGED RESTORATION CUP, ON THE OCCASION OF THE FINALS AND CLOSING CEREMONIES AT THE SAMSON SIASIA SPORTS COMPLEX, YENAGOA, ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2018.
PROTOCOL…
Your Excellency, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the Governor Henry Seriake Dickson Football tournament started with one idea and a few persons, a team of determined people. We came together and after countless meetings, consultations and brainstorming we kicked the first ball. The idea is to harness the abundant skills talents of the youths of Bayelsa State away from cultism, violence and other social vices.
This tournament is the first of its kind in Bayelsa State and we have proved that with sheer determination, belief and a desire to succeed, we can overcome any challenge. When you came up with the great idea to make this year’s tournament community based, we were initially scared of the enormity of the task ahead of us. But as you taught us, we soldiered on and after playing over 150 matches over two months we are today at the finals.
We played in Ebedebiri, in Nembe, in Brass, in Kaiama, in Opokuma, in Amassoma, in Otuasega and even in Agge, deep in the Atlantic. Thank God we didn’t have to go through Delta State to play in Ekeremor Local Government Area like we did last year because our indefatigable Governor has constructed a road all the way to Aleibiri in Ekeremor LGA. Surely, one day we will drive to Brass and Oporoma to play our matches.
This year, we have the same prizes like the previous edition:
1st Place N5m
2nd Place N3m
3rd Place N2m
Most Valuable Player (MVP) N100,000
Most Valuable Goal keeper (MVG) N100,000
Highest Goal Scorer (HGS) N100,000
Most Entertaining Supporters N50,000
Best Behaved Team N50,000
Distinguished Guests, we would like to express our profound gratitude to all those who made this edition a success. We wish to specially thank HE Governor Seriake Dickson whose love for the youths of Bayelsa and his commitment to sports development propelled us to this level of success.
We would also like to appreciate Sterling Bank Plc that sponsored the winning prizes like they did last year. Mr. Ken Etete of Century Group, all our Local Government Chairmen, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Linkage Assurance, HRH Serena Dokubo-Spiff and the BDIC, A & K Construction Limited and Arc. Amagbe Kentebe on behalf of the Edwin Kentebe Foundation.
We also salute the Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Perekiye Buruboyefe, our equally sports loving Commissioner for Information, Hon. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, a former Commissioner for Sports and now House of Reps member, Hon. Douye Diri, Prof Steve Azaiki, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Francis Agbo (Editor Gburugburu), Mr and Mrs Crooks, Mr. Tam Alazigha, among others.
We would also like to thank the media, especially the Bayelsa chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Channels TV, AIT, NTA and TVC which all gave us massive coverage regardless of our very lean media budget. Their collective support and assistance ensured the success of the tournament and we cannot thank them enough.
We also wish to thank the Restoration Cup Ambassador, Coach Samson Siasia (who is with the Eagles in UK as we speak), and our father and Special Guest of Honour, Coach Monday Sinclair. We are indeed grateful.
Unfortunately, we feel pained that despite their huge operating presence in Bayelsa, the major oil companies refused to heed our call to support this grassroots initiative, which is designed to foster peace and harmony in our region. I hope they have a rethink on this faulty position as we plan to take our boys to Europe on a playing tour.
Finally, Bayelsa should be very proud of the TEAM RESTORATION led by Richman Ndakwe, Amaduobogha Owei, Daniel Alabrah, Sir Braveman Wodi, David Nanakumo, Pastor Sunny Nehru, the dynamic Mablas Macaulay Akpuluma Jnr and over 150 other coordinators, referees, technical team members, social media crew and numerous officials who worked tirelessly without any financial benefit but instead contributed their widow’s mite to ensure the success of this tournament. This is indeed quite commendable.
As we draw the curtains of this exciting edition, we open other windows of opportunities for over 30 talented Bayelsa youths who will be camped at the Sports Academy in Asoama, newly built by His Excellency, before going to Abuja for a training camp hosted by Coach Samson Siasia. After over four weeks of camping, training and friendly matches, these boys will be ready for our training tour in Spain, Norway (or Turkey).
This phase of our plans is equally capital intensive and we call upon sports loving Bayelsans, corporate organisations and Nigerians alike to support this noble initiative to make this dream a reality.
Going forward, due to persistent request by Bayelsans, God willing, we intend to host a female football tournament in Bayelsa before the end of the year. We hope her Excellency the amiable wife of our Governor, Dr (Mrs) Rachael Dickson, would support us as we carry our sisters along in this exciting project.
Equally, plans have commenced to take advantage of the beautifully constructed golf course in the New Bayelsa City, recently built by our sports loving governor, to host the first-ever BAYELSA AMATUER OPEN GOLF CHALLENGE. This tournament, which would bring in high profile golfers from Abuja, Lagos , PH and Uyo, will place Bayelsa squarely on the map of sports tourism in the country.
Your Excellency, in closing, I want to remind my fellow brothers and sisters of your famous words, which I paraphrase: Indeed, we have built bridges, roads, schools, state-of-the-art offices, ultra modern health facilities and even massive farming centres. Now is the time to build vibrant Bayelsa youths; talented, skilful, creative, strong, daring, fearless and determined to conquer the world. Now is the time to build other Henry Seriake Dicksons.
Thank you and God bless.
Comments
Post a Comment