From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, and Premium Trust Bank, on Wednesday, announced cash rewards for Bayelsa Queens, champions of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL).
The pronouncements were made when the team and the premiership trophy were presented to Governor Diri during the 167th State Executive Council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.
The elated governor praised the players for another remarkable season in which Bayelsa Queens did not lose any game and for emerging league champions for the second time in three years.
He appreciated the 26 players and the chief coach, Ogbonda Whyte, with a cash reward of N4m each while eight other coaches in the team got N2 million each.
The governor also pronounced N3 million reward for the chairman while the six board members got one million naira each and N1.5 million to each of the team’s backroom staff and N3 million for the supporters club.
He urged the team not to rest on its laurels as Nigeria’s representatives to the WAFU B regional qualifiers in Cote d’Ivoire ahead of the CAF Women’s Champions League in Morocco.
His words: “On behalf of our Government of Prosperity and the good people of Bayelsa State, we say congratulations for lifting the league trophy for the sixth time.
“In 2022, you went for the WAFU B Champions League qualifier and won it for Nigeria. Now you are going again for the second time in three years to represent not only Bayelsa but also Nigeria. You must display the indomitable Bayelsa spirit and return home with the trophy like our Super Falcons.
“Knowing that we have a sports-loving president with what he doled out to the Super Falcons, I believe the Federal Government will support the Bayelsa State government to ensure you do well as the country’s representatives. You are no longer just Bayelsa Queens but you are now Nigerian Queens.”
Governor Diri commended the state’s partners in sports, Premium Trust Bank, for its support to Bayelsa Queens and for identifying with the football development in the state.
He again implored oil firms and corporate organisations doing business in the state to show better corporate social responsibility in developing the youths through sports like Premium Bank.
The bank’s Chief Business Officer, Mr. Offiong Aniebet, who represented the Managing Director, said the organisation was glad identifying with the state’s achievements, particularly in sports.
He also announced the reward of N2 million each to the players and the technical crew.
Also, the Commissioner for Sports, Dr. Daniel Igali, described Bayelsa Queens as not just defending champions but “defining champions,” stating that in 2022 when they represented the country in the CAF Women’s Champions League, they came home with the bronze medal and till date is the only Nigerian team to achieve such a feat.
Igali thanked Governor Diri for providing the enabling support for the team to record consistent achievements domestically and on the continent.
