As a way to encourage sportsmen and women to do well in future competitions, the Bayelsa State Government led by Governor Douye Diri has financially rewarded those who participated in recent sport competitions.
Governor Diri, while receiving the athletes at the Government House in Yenagoa on Tuesday, rewarded them financially while saying they made Nigeria and the state proud.
The Governor congratulated Bayelsa Queens on emerging champions of the CAF Women Champions League WAFU Zone B tournament in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast. He then splashed a sum of N10m, in addition to $1,000 each for the players and $3,000 for the three goals the team scored in a particular game at the regional qualifiers.
Bayelsa athletes and coaches who participated at the 2022 Commonwealth Games were not left out as they were rewarded with N2.5m for the hold medalists, N1.5m for silver medalists, and bronze medalists got N1m.
The coaches, of gold-winning athletes, got N2m each, while their silver and bronze medal counterparts received N1m and N800,000 respectively. Athletes who didn’t win medals at the Games also got N300,000 each.
The athletes who participated at the African Senior Athletics Championships in Mauritania and Africa U-19 Championships in Tunisia will also smile at the bank as the Governor announced various financial rewards for their achievements
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, he quoted the governor’s word on his happiness over the athletes’ performance.
“We are indeed very proud of you. You went out representing not only our state but also Nigeria. You left no one in doubt that you were truly representing Nigeria.
“The people of Bayelsa are holding their heads high because of your sterling performances. Continue on that path. Success is difficult to sustain. People are already planning to overthrow you.”