Bayelsa State Governor, Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, has assured that the Restoration Cup football tournament would be sustained beyond his tenure.
He made the pledge on Thursday in Yenagoa during the formal draws ceremony of the Third Governor Henry Seriake Dickson Football Tournament and presentation of kits to representatives of the 160 participating teams.
The Tournament Director, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, who is also his Special Adviser on Public Affairs, quoted the governor as calling on participating communities and organisations to exhibit sportsmanship during and after the competition.
He also charged the youths and leaders of the various communities to be peaceful during the games, noting that no one is a loser as the idea of the tournament is to come together to foster unity, brotherly love and friendship.
Governor Dickson, who described the Restoration Cup as a football talent development programme, commended the organisers, the Commissioner for Sports Development, Mr. Perekiye Buruboyefe, friends and partners for their efforts toward sustaining the competition.
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He congratulated the Restoration Starlets picked from the 2018 edition, their technical crew and officials for the team’s performance at the Africa Youth Cup held in Cape Verde in April where they came third.
He assured the team of support while promising the players and technical crew cash reward for making the state and the nation proud.
His words: “I want to thank and appreciate those who have been coordinating this tournament, the Commissioner for Sports Development, sports experts, partners and especially the youths of our communities, who every year key into this football and talent development programme that has been running for three years.
“The Restoration Cup is a brainchild of friends, individuals in government, supporters and well-wishers. This competition will continue even after I have left office.
It will be a new beginning because I will have more time to call on friends to come and support for the sake of the youths of this state.
