At reception for newly promoted Bayelsa United, Diri proposes new stadium

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has disclosed that his administration is considering constructing a new stadium following the promotion of the state-sponsored football team, Bayelsa United, to the elite Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).

Last Saturday, the team won Group B2 Southern Conference of the 2021/22 Nigerian National League (NNL) after defeating Cynosure of Abakaliki, Ebonyi State 2-0 in their last game of the season at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Yenagoa.

Speaking during a dinner in honour of the management and players of Bayelsa United on Tuesday in Yenagoa, Governor Diri said although the Samson Siasia complex, which hosts both Bayelsa United and Bayelsa Queens, which also won the 2021/22 Nigerian Women Football League (NWFL), will be re-modelled ahead of the new season, there was need for a stadium of international standard in the state.

He expressed the commitment of his administration in making Bayelsa a hub of sports in Nigeria, saying that the state would soon organise a sports festival to complement its sports development policy, adding that the government had received positive responses from corporate organisations.

Diri announced the approval of N10 million as motivation to the team.

“I like to join all Bayelsans to congratulate you and welcome you to the elite division of the Nigerian Professional Football League. Last year, when you contested for the FA Cup, now renamed AITEO Cup, you were called giant killers because you were in the lower league. But you defeated clubs in the premier league to win the trophy.

“From then on, we believed we can do better. At the end of the day, you made yourselves and the state proud by winning that coveted