WHO WINS BAYELSA’S PRE-SEASON TOURNAMENT AS TOP NPFL TEAMS STORM YENAGOA?

With effect from Monday, 12th August, 2024, some of Nigeria’s finest brains in terms of coaching and football technicalities will be battling for the top prize money of the Governor Douye Diri Pre-season Football Tournament.

The Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa will be agog as eight teams, Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia, Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin, Enyimba International Football Club of Aba, Kwara United of Ilorin, Rivers United of Porthacourt, Sunshine Stars of Akure, and 2023 winners of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football competition, the Prosperity Cup, Krusaders Feeders of Ekeremor, Bayelsa State, alongside host team, Bayelsa United, will go for bragging rights.

Apart from fostering stronger relationships among the participating teams, the Pre-season tournament which is organized by the Bayelsa State Government, in partnership with the Bayelsa State Football Association and Red Sapphire, is geared towards providing teams with the opportunity of preparing themselves ahead of the forthcoming 2024/2025 Nigerian Professional Football League season, as well an avenue to scout and sign players to beer up their squad.

A BRIEF LOOK AT THE COACHES

We a look the Coaches heading to Yenagoa for the Pre-season tournament.

He is not new when it comes to football matters in Nigeria and Africa, and one of the most wide-traveled coaches in Nigeria. Ladan Bosso has handled several teams in the Nigeria Professional Football League, with the likes of Abia Warriors, Enyimba International, Kano Pillars, Wiki Tourist of Bauchi, Elkanemi Warriors of Maiduguri, and currently having his second stint with Bayelsa United. He is one of the few coaches that has also handled the National team, managing the Flying Eagles twice, in 2007 and in 2020. The Niger State-born tactician was close to winning the NPFL with Bayelsa United in 2014, and is ready to prove that his second coming is worth it by winning the Pre-season tournament.

The retired Sharks Football Club goalkeeper announced himself as one of Nigeria’s tacticians after clinching the NPFL title with current champions, Enugu Rangers in 2016, following his appointment the previous year. Imama Amakapabo also managed Elkanemi Warriors of Maiduguri before switching to another eastern side, Abia Warriors. He is another coach to watch out for at the Pre-season tournament in Yenagoa, as his already planning to cause an upset by emerging winner with Abia Warriors.

One of Nigeria’s most decorated and celebrated Ex-international, Finidi George is a household name in football at the global stage. Had great times with Calabar Rovers, Iwuanyawu National, and Sharks FC in Nigeria before signing for European clubs like Ajax, Real Betis, Real Mallorca, Ipswich Town, among others.

He won the league title with Enyimba International in 2023 in Lagos, and had a short stint as Super Eagles coach, before his resignation.

However, with his recent appointment as coach of Rivers United, Finidi George will use the Pre-season tournament to announce to his colleagues that he is going for the trophy this coming season.

Certainly one of Nigeria’s reverred coaches, Mohammed Baba Ganaru is another name you wont toil with when it comes to football in the country. Having ruled the top flight league with the golden generation of Kano Pillars, when they cruised to victory for three straight seasons – 2012, 2013, and 2014.

He had also worked with Nasarawa United, Wikki Tourists, Lobi Stars and El-kaneni Warriors. He left Gombe United and is currently with Akwa United.

Coach Baba Ganaru is poised to reignite his winning skills at the forthcoming NPFL season, and making an impact at the Pre-season tournament in Yenagoa won’t be a bad idea for him.

The solid-rock center back played for Enyimba International, Warri Wolves, Sharks FC, and Kwara United, before featuring for Indian club, Churchill Brothers, and then wrapped up his playing career in Bangladesh.

Monday Odigie have turned round the fortunes of the club since assuming as Technical Adviser. He guided Bendel Insurance back to the Nigeria’s top flight football in 2022 after spending over ten seasons in lower divisions, and same season,.won the Super 8 tournament in Yenagoa.

The Edo-born coach who has already made Yenagoa his home will be banking on his familiarities with the city, as well as the young stars he signed in Bayelsa following his visits to watch the finals of the Prosperity Cup in 2023 and 2024, to announce his readiness to go for the NPFL trophy by winning the Pre-season tournament.

The ex-Sharks of Porthacourt, Udoji United and SV Straelen of Germany playmaker, launched his senior managerial career with Sunshine Stars of Akure in 2015, and the following year, pitched his tent with Abia Warriors and the following year with Plateau United of Jos where against all odds won the Nigerian Professional Football League title – the only time they have won it. Although they topped the table in the 2020/2021 season, but it was halted due to the Covid menace.

Kenedy Boboye, having managed clubs like Remo Stars, Abia Warriors, Akwa United, and a brief stint with Heartland FC last season, will be aiming to prove to bookmakers that he is in Yenagoa for real business.

KABIR DOGO

Former manager of Wikki Tourists, Lobi Stars FC, Sunshine Stars and Nasarawa United will surely bring his wealth of experience to bear when the Pre-season tournament kicks off in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State next week.

The Kwara United gaffer will also be aiming to cause a major upset by guiding the team to victory, so as to alert other teams

GENESIS SUOMOKUMO

Surely one of the less fancied among all the coaches and perhaps the only coach that is yet to be launched at the national scene, but coach Genesis Suomokumo is already a household name in Bayelsa State.

Coach Genesis Suomokumo clinched the season 5 trophy of Nigeria’s biggest grassroot football competition, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament popularly known as the Prosperity Cup in style. His team were clearly and absolutely one of the best team ever as far as the grassroots football competition is concerned. With his stylish, skillful and attacking playing pattern, you would not help but fancy his style of coaching.

He also helped to guide Krusaders Feeders to triumph at the Bayelsa FA Cup.

However his team, Krusaders Selected comprises of other exceptional players picked during the Prosperity Cup, with players from the champions, Ogboinbiri United and Bayelsa United Feeders making the cut.

At the Pre-season tournament, Coach Genesis Wil be joined by Ex-international and former Bayelsa United manager, Jossy Dombraye, as well as seasoned grassroot football coach and pioneer manager of George Turnah FC, Ada Gwegwe.

Even though it will be mission impossible, but to Coach Genesis, it will mission probable, as he will be hoping to add the Pre-season tournament trophy to his cabinet, at the expense of other well established and known coaches across the continent, a feat that will surely catapult his name to greater heights if achieved.

The maiden Governor Douye Diri Pre-season football tournament will see teams arrive on Sunday, 11th August, with the first set of games slated for Monday while the finals will hold on Sunday, August 18th.