The Bayelsa Government will further support Bayelsa United Football Club of Yenagoa in its quest to return to the Nigeria Professional Football League, an official has assured.
The State Commissioner for Sports, Perekiye Buboyefa, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Yenagoa that government was committed to ensuring that the club got elevated to the next level.
He said it was in line with this that the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa had been given a facelift by the state government as part of the commitment.
Buboyefa said: “With the stadium in perfect condition, Bayelsa United and other clubs in the state can play their home matches in the league with all their supporters cheering them to victory.’’
He said apart from the privilege of playing home matches on home turf, the stadium management would generate funds which would also help to run the clubs to enhance government support.
Buboyefa also said the government was constructing a befitting State Football Association Secretariat to ensure that sports stakeholders were fully involved in the running of football this season.
Speaking also, the Chairman of the state’s chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Alambo Datonye, urged the state government to ensure the conditions are good for the clubs.
Datonye said: “In spite of the fact that the renovation of the Samson Siasia Stadium is a big relief for sports enthusiasts, government must do the needful to make the clubs in the state succeed. Teams don’t automatically get promoted.
“For example, if you recruit solid players, this can win matches for you home and away to give you promotion. Also, if you have a sound coach who can deploy tactics which can inspire the team to win, you can get promotion.
“Another thing is to get involved in the politics of the game. With that you can ensure that you don’t get cheated by other teams.
“These are some of the things government can do to steer the state’s clubs away from relegation.”
Also speaking, the Secretary of All-Stars International in Yenagoa, Stanley Disi, said playing home matches on home turf would the clubs’ chances in the league.
He added that the state-owned clubs failed to succeed in the quest for promotion because they have been playing home games away from home.
Disai said: “No matter how good a team is, without home advantage it cannot survive. So, I am happy with the rehabilitation of the Samson Siasia Stadium.
“But what we must not take for granted is the funding of the clubs. If there is proper funding and the management of the team is not politicised, then the teams are sure to win honours.”
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