The search for talents that will form the core of the Bayelsa Starlets U-15 academy, an affiliate of FC Barcelona, has begun in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The two-week scouting tournament features 18 Bayelsa based academies that have been divided into four groups from where two will progress from each of the groups fy the quarter final stage of the tournament.
In yesterday’s opening round of games, enterprising Donbai United humbled Ebiede FA of Amassoma five nil to move to the top of group A. In the second match, Starlight FA and Opokuma FA settled for a two all draw.
In group B, Jebz Int’l Soccer School clinically dispatched Dimaro FC by three unreplied goals while Stardom Life FA decimated Rising Stars FA by seven goals to nil to comfortably move to the top of group B.
Speaking at the programme, Tournament Director, Mr. Ebi Avi, said the scouting programme was aimed at getting the right age of players for the proposed Bayelsa Starlets Academy, stating that the U-19 category of the academy has already taken off.
Read Also: Nigerian sports federations must stop waiting for government, start building sustainable partnerships
He hinted that all the eighteen teams participating in the tournament are Bayelsa-based academies, maintaining that the Prosperity Cup organizers’ dream is to see Bayelsa players compete favourably with their peers at the global stage.
According to him, before the commencement of the tournament they have painstakingly undertaken steps to determine the right aged of the players in order to curtail age cheating, having met with all the owners of the various academies.
In a related development, coach of Donbai United, Emmanuel Donbai, commended the organizers of the tournament for the life-changing initiative, maintaining that the exercise has positively engaged youths of the state.
Chairman of the Bayelsa State Grassroots Coaches Association, Anthony Fouye appreciated the governor, Senator Douye Diri for investing in grassroots sports development, stressing that the exercise would give more opportunity for Bayelsa youths to realize their potentials.
Hostilities will resume on Tuesday, 14th July, 2026 in the U-15 Scouting Tournament as Kingdom Stars welcome Oyis FA at 9.00am. In other fixtures, King Warriors will keep a date with Winchester FC at 10.00am, Dominion City will lock horns with Bayelsa Stars at 12.00 noon while Osaro FA will face Solid Stars in the last match of the day at 1.30pm
All matches will be decided at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.
