By Julius Agadaga, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government has announced the commencement of the 2026 edition of the Prosperity Cup, in partnership with FC Barcelona of Spain.
The announcement was made by Governor Douye Diri during the weekly Prosperity Walk held at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa.
Governor Diri was officially handed branded jerseys for clubs representing Nembe Bassambiri and Nembe Ogbolomabiri, symbolising the start of the tournament and acknowledging his role in fostering peace between the previously warring sections of the community.
The first match of the tournament is scheduled for Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 8am. Over 200 teams are expected to participate across 30 centres, marking the 30th anniversary of Bayelsa State’s creation. Para football has also been included in this year’s edition.
Speaking on sports development in the state, the governor highlighted the importance of partnerships with the private sector, including banks and oil companies, to complement government funding for sports programmes.
His words: “We are growing gradually and if not phenomenally, because now the number of participating teams also so much. Sometimes I wonder if the resources I’ve approved for you is actually going to serve you, but I have asked you to also be a little bit independent, so that go into the private sector. And there are those who have been partnering with us, like banks, like a premium bank. So go into them. Whatever shortfalls from our approvals, they will make it up, if not more than that, going to the oil companies that operating here? If you have issues, call me”
Governor Diri further stressed the role of sports as a tool for youth empowerment and reiterated the state government’s commitment to improving sports infrastructure, including the ongoing construction of a proposed 30,000-capacity world-class stadium in Bayelsa State.
“We need sports development. When people say, youth empowerment. This is the youth empowerment via sports. And so you are doing very well.”
Responding to critics questioning the need for the stadium project, the governor insisted that infrastructure development remains vital to the state’s growth.
His words: “We are traveling to other places, we also want them to come to Bayelsa, and that is why we are very serious with our 30,000 seater capacity stadium. But we we must have the infrastructure. The major problem of Bayelsa is that we don’t have the infrastructure. Some ignorant people are saying we don’t need a world class Stadium at this time, ignorance because they are not in sports. And I’m sure that none of you here will say that. So when you see them saying that in Facebook, counter them and tell them that they are witches and wizards that they don’t want Bayelsa to grow.”
Addressing tournament referees led by renowned Nigerian FIFA referee Callistus Chukwujekwu, the governor lamented corruption in refereeing, which he said had negatively affected football development in Nigeria. He, however, expressed confidence that FIFA-badged referees would officiate professionally.
“One of the bane of Nigerian football has been refereeing and that led to the deterioration of football competitions in Nigeria because the centre referees and assistants are most times compromised by taking bribes, by looking at ethnic affiliations and that brought down Nigerian football. I’m a football fan from my youth until today yet no change. There was a time of in this country when Sharks football club of Rivers, Sharks of Enugu and Stationary Stores of Lagos, you would barely see people on the street when those teams were playing. Just the way people are following the Premier League and La Liga that was how we followed our teams back then. But when we saw compromise from referees, other officials and match commissioners, football started coming down.
“I’m happy to hear today that there are referees who have integrity and who have started to bring up the game so I charge you to continue this good work” The governor said.
Governor Diri also charged Team Bayelsa to return victorious at the second edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Edo State, following their success at the maiden edition last year.
