From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
The Central Organizing Committee of Nigeria’s largest grassroots football fiesta, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, also known as the Prosperity cup has disqualified Youbolobo football club of Agge from further participation in this Year’s competition.
The Agge based side, which were the runners up in Ekeremor LGA was found guilty of fielding an ineligible player in their quarter final clash with Advance Dreams Football Academy of Yenagoa on Tuesday.
In an enlarged meeting of the Central Organizing and Disciplinary committees held on Wednesday, it was discovered that, Youbolobo had violated article vi, sub sections 1(g) as well as section 2 (b) and (c), of the tournament’s rules, which dwell on false information.
The meeting of the Central Organizing and Disciplinary committees, which was urgently convened as a result of a protest filed by Advance Dreams Football Academy, discovered that Youbolobo football of Agge had fielded one Austin Oboroakpo, who used fictitious name and also contravene the age limit for professional players, who must be indigenous to Bayelsa State.
However, Officials of Youbolobo denied the allegations, but equally failed to provide any evidence to substantiate their claims and denials.
On investigation, the Central Organizing and Disciplinary committees discovered that, the player in question, Austin Oboroakpo had played for a number of professional club sides within the Country and was also a member of the Super Eagles in 2015, during which he made five appearances.
Youbolobo’s disqualification now paves the way for their quarter final opponents, Advance Dreams Football Academy to move into the semi finals of the Prosperity Cup Tournament, where they will be locking horns with Bayelsa United Feeders in what is expected to be a cracker on Thursday afternoon at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.
Speaking shortly after the decision of the protest was announced, the Director General of the Central Organizing Committee of Nigeria’s largest grassroots football showpiece, Mr. Ono Akpe renewed his warning on teams to always play by the rules or be prepared to bear punishment for their actions.
While expressing the hope that, the disqualification of Youbolobo would serve as a deterrent to other teams going forward, he stated that the organizers would stop at nothing to ensure that it sanitized the tournament, so that it will continue to achieve its core objectives.
He used the opportunity to thank Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri for the confidence reposed in the organizers and assured youths and other relevant stakeholders that, their interests would always be protected as long as they played by the rules.
