By Sedara Philip
Ahead of kick-off of this year’s Nigeria Premier Football League and Spanish La Liga Under 15 Futures competition, Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo has unveiled cash rewards to motivate Bayelsa United cadet team to target the trophy.
According to his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, the Deputy Governor promised the team a cash reward of N5 million from his pocket, if they emerge as champions.
This is in addition to a N500,000 the team will get as winning bonus for each match they will win during the competition, while each match won will be rewarded with N500,000 as winning bonus.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo made the promise, at the weekend, at a dinner organized by the state government as part of efforts to motivate the team in Government House, Yenagoa, ahead of their departure to Ikenne, Ogun State, venue of the tournament.
He added that every goal scored would attract a cash reward of N200,000, the goal scorer will get N100,000, assist gets N50,000 and the second assist N50,000 bringing the total to N400,000 for each goal scored on the run of play excluding free kicks and penalty.
His words: So, right now, the ball is in your court. It is up to you to go out there and play to win the trophy. So, you have to be courageous, confident and put in a lot of effort.
“Train as if your life depends on it, do your best. When you go put in all your efforts, one hundred percent. I want you to go to the competition and conquer,” Senator Ewhrudjakpo charged the Bayelsa Under 15 boys.
The Deputy Governor, who also directed that kits comprising boots, track suits and other training materials be provided for the players immediately, said the Governor would also announce a formal reward after their victory, including granting them scholarships, if they succeed.
Speaking on behalf of the team, a board member of Bayelsa United, Mr. Miebi Ogunu, thanked the Deputy Governor for hosting the boys, stressing that it was the first time they had received the treatment.
Mr. Ogunu said with the motivation and support of the Governor and the Deputy Governor, the Bayelsa Under 15 boys will give the State a good representation and emerge victorious at the competition.
All the 20 teams in the Nigeria Premier Football League are expected to participate in the competition which gets underway this weekend at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne Ogun State.
Remo Stars won the 4th edition of the competition, beating Shooting Stars 2-0 in the final last year.
