Gov Douye Diri Under-18 invitational Tournament Kicks-Off In Yenagoa

**As Bayelsa Starlets, Kingdom Stars Academy Record Wins**

The Governor Douye Diri Under-18 Invitational Tournament, Thursday kicked-off in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital with a show of exciting football from the young lads.

The six team Invitational Tournament which is sponsored by the Bayelsa State Government is targeted to discover talents and keep the Bayelsa Starlets in shape ahead of the Remo Invitational Tournament in Ogun State and the Africa Youth Championship Cup in Cape Verde next month.

In the first match of the day Bayelsa Starlets humbled Tektop Football Academy of Awka, Anambra State by 8-0 at the Samson Siasia Stadium. Bayelsa Starlets capitalized on Tektop Academy fatigue due to their late arrival in Yenagoa.

Bayelsa Starlets scored 5-0 in the first half of the game but the Anambra based Academy showed some level of promises though could not penetrate Starlet’s defence line maned by Pina Sagbamamowei.

Bayelsa Starlets kept their cool in the second half with possessive and scintillating play as they added another three to cap the scoreline.

Kingdom Football Academy in the second game overcame Excellent Academy of Delta State by 1-0. Ebi Moses second half free kick defined the tie for Kingdom Football Academy of Bayelsa.

Action will return tomorrow with the first match of the day between Dream FA against Excellent Academy by 7.30am, while Tektop Academy will face Dynamo Academy of Benin in the second match of the day at 9.30am. Kingdom Football Academy will take on Dream Football Academy by 1.30 while Dynamo Academica of will be up against Bayelsa Starlets in the last match of the day by 4pm.

Director General of the Bayelsa State Governor’s Football Tournament tagged the Prosperity Cup Mr Ono Akpe in an interview, said he was pleased with the level of talents in the tournament, stating that the essence of the tournament was to discover talents for the future.

Mr Akpe thanked the Governor Senator Douye Diri and his Deputy Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo and the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development Hon Daniel Igali for giving the youths the platform to market their talents.

Also, Chief Coach of Bayelsa Starlets, Ada Gwegwe noted that he is optimistic that the lads would surpass their previous record in the Africa Youth Championship in Cape Verde, noting that the Gov Douye Diri Invitational Tournament would help the lads before traveling to the Remo Invitational Tournament in Ogun State.