Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, on Monday, splashed over N70 million on sportsmen and women, including administrators, who recently brought glory to the state.
Prominent among the awardees were the Bayelsa-born Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallist, Blessing Oborududu, and the male and female winners of the 2021 AITEO Cup, Bayelsa United and Bayelsa Queens.
At a civic reception in Yenagoa, Oborududu received N4million, while the top 25 registered players of both United and Queens were rewarded with N1 million each.
Diri also announced N1 million reward for Oborududu’s coach, Victor Kodei, a former wrestling champion as well as cash rewards of N1.3million for the technical advisers of both teams and an additional N1.5 million each for the clubs’ board chairmen.
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He also redeemed the government’s pledge of new buses, directing the immediate release of two Coaster buses to the two football teams.
“In recognition of this historic feat and giant stride, your government has decided to reward you (Blessing Oborududu) with the sum of four million naira.
“Our daughter has put Bayelsa State and Nigeria on the map of the world in female wrestling,” Diri said.
“For our FA Cup giants, for the first time in the history of the FA Cup, now AITEO Cup, no state in Nigeria has brought home the two cups, both male and female.
“It used to be an all-male affair until the female version was introduced. Bayelsa is the first state and I stand to be proved wrong. Bayelsa has set the record.
“So, your Prosperity Administration has decided to reward our AITEO Cup male and female players. The top 25 registered players will receive the sum of one million naira each. Other players will get N500,000 each.
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“The chairmen of both teams will receive N1.5 million each and the Technical Advisers of both clubs N1.3 million each.
“For each of the clubs, the board members will get one million naira, while the coach of our sister, who himself is a wrestling champion, Victor Kodei, and accompanied our silver medalist to Tokyo, will get the sum of one million naira.
“As usual, with sports, it is a team game and there are others who contributed to the victory and success. Their reward will also be communicated to them,” he said.
The governor also gave immediate approval for the upgrade of the Samson Siasia Sports Complex as well as the wrestling gym.