Akpe proud of Bayelsa Governor’s Cup impact on Nigerian football

 

Prosperity Cup discovery, Precious Benjamin, made an impact with Nigeria’s Under 20 National Team at the just concluded CAF Under 20 Africa Cup of Nations, in Egypt.

 

 

Director General of the Bayelsa Governor’s Cup, Ono Akpe (right) having a chat with Bayelsa State Governor, His Excellency, Senator Duoye, Diri (left) during a previous edition of the competition, in Yenagoa.

Director General of the Prosperity Cup, Ono Akpe, has expressed satisfaction that the Bayelsa State Governor’s Football Tournament, which is Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football tournament, is already impacting Nigerian football.

Akpe stated this while speaking with journalists shortly after defending champions Eternal Grace Ministries (EGM), won the Yenagoa Local Government final encounter after overcoming Bayelsa United Feeders. the biggest grassroots football tournament in the country.

Now in its seventh season, some talents have made recognizable progress in the game to justify the vision of its founders.

“I am excited that a product of the 2023 edition of the Prosperity Cup, Precious Benjamin, who plays for TSG Hoffenheim in Germany, is presently part of the national Under-20 football team, that won bronze in the just-concluded AFCON U-20 Championship in Morocco.

“Our dream is that the tournament will serve as a springboard for our youths to play for big Nigerian club sides just as some will ply their trade abroad.

“We are fulfilling that dream and hopefully we will do more at the end of the tournament,” he said.

Akpe revealed that “No fewer than six Prosperity Cup talents are currently with Bayelsa United, while a sizeable number are scattered across other club sides in Nigeria. There are others plying their trade abroad.

“Progress have also come from the women as Harmony John, who played for the grassroots club, Golden Sun Sports Club, last year is now a proud member of the Bayelsa Queens squad”.

He applauded the Yenagoa finalists; EGM and Bayelsa United Feeders, for putting up an impressive display.

“We are very thrilled; it was a very technical game. You could see both teams are young, youthful and very vibrant.

“We are impressed because we are seeing quality football at every stage of the competition”.