By Ikenna Nwokedi
Chief Executive Officer of Monimichelle Sports Facility Construction Ltd, Chief Ebi Egbe says he is bankrolling the Bayelsa Under-17 football league to help in unearthing future talented Super Stars for his state Bayelsa.
Sixteen clubs across the state are featuring in the maiden edition of the Bayelsa State U-17 football league being organized by the Bayelsa State Grassroots Football Coaches Association.
The competition which kick starts on Saturday, 1st October 2022 will run for a period of three months and will come to an end before the festive period in December.
Mr Egbe promised to ensure the tournament becomes an annual event and is expected to get bigger and better as the years go by.
Speaking on why he decided to sponsor the U-17 football league, the Monimichelle boss said as a major stakeholder in sports industry, he wants to use football to unite the people of Bayelsa, strengthen the existing relationship among his people and provide a platform to positively engage the youths.
“Football is a tool for social integration and there is need to use the instrumentality of the beautiful game to unite the people, create an opportunity for people to mix-up and provide a platform to tap from the amazing and immense talent in our young ones,” Egbe said.
“I anticipate that this competition will encourage other stakeholders and public spirited individuals in the state to see the need to encourage human capital development through sports and support the present administration of His Excellency Douye Diri, the Executive Governor of the State, who understands the impact of sports to the society,” Egbe posited.
The sports facility contractor apart from the U-17 football competition has sponsored cum supported numerous sporting events notably the Apoi Unity Cup for riverine Apoi Communities of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
