By Hananeel Jackson
A renowned American wrestler and entrepreneur, Dwayne Johnson once said “Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.”
This timeless quote from Dwayne Johnson has continued to be the driving force of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament tagged the Prosperity Cup, formerly known as Restoration Cup.
Since 2015 when the tournament was conceptualized by the former governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, the spectacle has continued to be the bedrock for many grassroots footballers in Bayelsa with some plying their trades with different European clubs ensuring that the dream of the vision bearer, Mr. Ono Akpe is realized.
In the maiden edition in 2015, the tournament witnessed 110 teams in participation with Ewo-ama FC of Brass Local Government Area emerging champions, defeating River Ramos FC of Ekeremor LGA at the Nembe City Stadium, Nembe. Okardi Inikurogha of Ewo-ama FC won the Most Valuable Player of that edition.
However, 2017 saw an increase from communities, tertiary institutions and faith-based organizations as Peretorugbene FC of Ekeremor Local Government Area were crowned champions of that edition. The 2017 edition produced the present Bayelsa United captain, Gabriel Biriduba and Tarabina Bweribo under the tutelage of Meinkeme Fekete with 154 teams in participation.
Hon Sunday Dare, former Minister of Sports now Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, named the Prosperity Cup Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football tournament in 2019 at the grand finale of the spectacle. Okolobiri FC won that year’s edition with 160 teams taking part.
The 2018/2019 tournament birthed a selected team called the Restoration Starlets FC that participated in the African Youth Championship in Cape Verde sponsored by the Bayelsa State Government under the watch of Diepreye Teibowei. The Restoration Starlets finished third in the competition. Later in 2019, the team was crowned champions of the Bayelsa State League on their return from Cape Verde.
The showpiece was halted in 2020/2021 as a result of the global pandemic, COVID-19 that ravaged the world.
The competition resumed in 2022 after the COVID-19 pandemic with a total of 210 teams and that edition was won by Eternal Grace Ministry (EGM) FC of Yenagoa. This edition of the tournament attracted International Scouts from France, South Africa, Australia and Eastern Europe. A lot has been achieved by this competition as several players from the tournament are plying their trades with different clubs abroad.
The 2022 edition of the tournament witnessed its first scouting programme which was led by the Chief Executive, Supreme Sports International, Mr. Vincent Onyeama alongside the Chief Executive Officer, Aspire Sports France, Mr. Gregory Paul and Mr Passi Gerald of Olympique Marseille of France.
Other scouts that attended were from Memelodi Sundowns of South Africa, Thembela Lesly, Head coach and Newcastle Jets coach of Australia, Mr Hussein Skenderovic. Thereafter, the Prosperity Cup had its second scouting programme led by renowned FIFA agent, Ojo Paul Omamomo including Nikita Poliakov, Dimitri Churkin from FDC Vista Academy in Europe as well as former National team gaffer and Bendel Insurance coach, Kennedy Boboye and Ex-international Joseph Eyimofe.
Crusaders FC of Peretorugbene in 2023 won the tournament with 214 registered teams playing in 24 centres across the eight local government areas in the State. Beyond the prize money and the trophy, one of the most captivating moments of the 2023 edition was the young Everton of Ikoli side who took the tournament by storm.
Despite being the youngest side with a 20-year-old as the oldest in the team, shocked many teams to reach the quarter finals but were knocked out by eventual champions, Crusaders FC, beating De Grace 4-2 on penalties to claim the crown that year.
The visionary Director General of the tournament, Mr. Ono Akpe and his team in the 2024 edition of the spectacle, added more spice to the competition with the introduction of the Women’s category, Para Soccer championship and the Local Government Area finals to decide champions in their respective local government areas.
According to Akpe, “the introduction of the women’s tournament was to consolidate on the achievements of Bayelsa Queens in women’s football in the country and continent, having finished third in 2022 in the CAF women’s champions league in Morocco”.
Apart from the various participating teams, the organizers have also created a platform to equip referees, coaches, medical personnel and coordinators with modern trends in their various vocations.
Ogboinbiri FC won the Prosperity Cup in 2024 beating Nembe City of Nembe at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa with 209 registered teams, in the presence of the NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau and other critical stakeholders in Nigeria football.
Eternal Grace Ministry, EGM FC won the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament for the second time in 2025 to become the first team in the history of the tournament to achieve such a feat. EGM FC beat Advanced Dreams FA by 4-3 on penalties after hostilities ended in a barren draw after regulation time at the Samson Siasia Stadium.
The 2025 edition of the tournament was competed among 231 teams, an unprecedented number of registered teams, the highest entry since the inception of the competition in 2015.
However, the Women’s version of the Prosperity Cup have witnessed three different champions, Golden Sun Sports in 2023, Niger Delta Queens of Amassoma won the 2024 edition while Afini Ladies FC of Yenagoa in 2025, defeated tournament favourites, Ezougha Soccer Academy 4-2 on penalties to emerge champions.
The Prosperity Cup has over the years metamorphosed from being just a football competition to a veritable institution of learning, gathering knowledge and sharpening skills.
Due to the impeccable organization of the tournament, in preparation for the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL season, the organizers of the Prosperity Cup held the first pre-season football tournament. They housed eight teams; Abia Warriors, Kwara United, Rivers United, Sunshine Stars, Bendel Insurance, Bayelsa United, and a team comprising selected players from the Prosperity Cup, took part in the pre-season tournament with the name Crusader FC.
Handsome Surveyor, one of the players that dazzled in the pre-season tournament was immediately signed by NPFL giants, Rivers United as a result of Crusader FC’s brilliant performance against Rivers United.
The Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament christened the Prosperity Cup has given grassroots footballers in the state the opportunity to earn a living as well as the opportunity to showcase their talents, with some plying their trade in the NPFL and others with foreign clubs.
Benjamin Precious is the latest player to enjoy the Prosperity Cup’s benevolence. He was discovered in Season five of the tournament after his impactful performance with Dream Football Academy, now Advanced Dreams FA under Kenneth Opukume’s watch.
Precious was an attacking sensation during the tournament and was admired by many fans and scouts in the SPOCS scouting programme at Remo, Ogun State and the 3rd Governor Douye Diri International Tournament in Yenagoa, thereafter he moved to the Gambian league, where he put up a brilliant performance before joining German Bundesliga side, TSG Hoffenheim.
Only recently, Precious shone like a million stars at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, compelling the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri commending the organizers of the tournament for their foresight. Other players are Joel Izibevie- Nestor who is currently in Bosnia.
Half of the Bayelsa United team that won the 2021 Aiteo Cup in Benin City, Edo State are products of the Prosperity Cup, Okardi Inikurogha, Robert Mizo who is currently in northern Cyprus, Gabriel Biriduba, Emo James, Endurance Ebedebiri, Tarabina Bweribo, Edwin Ayiba and Saro Loveday.
Alex Oyowah featured in the 2018/2019 edition with the Okordia team where he showcased his skills and got snapped up by Bayelsa United, he moved to Rivers United in the 2022/2023 season, before signing for Remo Stars and helping them to win the league title for the first time. Oyowah was also part of the last home-based CHAN Eagles team.
