For his giant stride in developing women’s football in Nigeria and Africa, the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has invited Bayelsa State Governor, Sen. Douye Diri to grace the final of the Women’s World Cup.
This is a remarkable feat for the ever-loving sports governor and his unassailable investment in the development of women’s football which has attained an unimaginable height in Bayelsa.
In Gov Diri’s entourage to Australia is the chairman of Bayelsa Queens, Pastor Robin Apreala and the club’s captain, Angela Michael.
Women’s Football in Bayelsa has enjoyed tremendous support and growth since Gov Diri came on board in 2019 and it is evident considering how the state made history as the first state that the men (Bayelsa United) and women (Bayelsa Queens) team won the Aiteo Federation Cup title in 2021 on the same day and this sparked a remarkable turnaround in the fortunes of Bayelsa United who later got promotion to the NPFL.
As a former Commissioner for Sports in Bayelsa, Gov Diri also recorded a similar record when the state teams Bayelsa United and Bayelsa Queens both won the NPFL and NWFL league titles in 2009.
This is part of Gov Diri’s record-breaking feats that no other governor in Nigeria has come close to and which other governors in Nigeria should emulate.
He has succeeded in taking youths off the streets by using sport and he completely renovated the Samson Siasia stadium into a state-of-the-art facility capable of hosting international matches.
Gov. Diri however chose the best hand to handle Bayelsa Queens which is the club chairman, Pastor Robin Apreala. Since he was appointed chairman of the Prosperity Girls, Pastor Apreala has stationed the club as the biggest and number one ranked team in West Africa and third in Africa.
Pastor Apreala who was recently ordained as a Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) during the 71st Convention in Lagos, has brought his wealth of experience as a sport administrator to redefine Bayelsa Queens to the best club in Nigeria and this has seen him excelled above his peers and contemporaries.
Pastor Apreala have made sure Bayelsa Queen’s welfare is second to none in the country and their salary scale is the highest in Nigeria with other teams trailing by.
Through the maximum support and backing of Gov Diri, Pastor Apreala has been able to attract the best players from other African countries to Nigeria and one of them is Cameroonian number one Ange Bawou and so many others making Bayelsa Queens the most attractive club side in Nigeria women Football.
The Prosperity Girls became the first Nigeria women’s team to win the Wafu B Champions League and went on to win the bronze medal at the CAF Champions League in Morocco thereby flying Nigeria’s flag high in Africa, a feat no other Nigeria club have been able to achieve.
Bayelsa Queens boasts of the best hospitality in Nigeria, their camp stands as the most sophisticated with all social amenities provided including feeding.
Pastor Apreala’s gentlemanly character and maturity have made him soar high and it’s not a surprise that he’s excelling at Bayelsa Queens with him at the helms of affairs at the club, the club would rule Africa and become the Queens of Africa football in no distant time.