The boys are gradually separated from the men as quarter-final action takes centre stage in Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football spectacle, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, christened the Prosperity Cup.
In the first of the quarter-final battles at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Eternal Grace Ministry’s EGM FC of Yenagoa pipped hard-fighting Professor Nimibofa Ayawei’s PNA FC of Koluama by a lone goal.
PNA FC came into the game with a near-perfect record of 19 goals scored and conceding just one and displaying great determination, but the more technical and tactical EGM FC were able to check the attacking threat of Ebi Dan and Kojo John, whose partnership has been productive for the Koluama-based side.
EGM FC’s man of the moment, Samuel Pedro’s added time goal, gave the former champions the deserved victory, having earlier won the Yenagoa LGA finals of the tournament.
In the day’s other quarterfinal encounter at the same venue, Bayelsa United Feeders edged out highly competitive Movers FC of Otuasega also by a lone to advance to the semi-finals.
Obediah Bethel’s 9th minute goal gave the youthful Bayelsa United Feeders side a hard-earned one nil win over Movers FC, who dominated the better part of the game.
The last two quarterfinal matches will be decided on Tuesday as Advance Dreams FC of Yenagoa trade tackles with Youbolobo FC of Agge by 1:00pm, while high-scoring Citiboi FC will face Ekeremor LGA champions, Crusaders FC of Peretoru-gbene. Both matches are slated for the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.
