
By Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Bayelsa State Governor on Tourism, Mr Piriye Kiyaramo has has appealed to traditional rulers to explore the uniquely unifying power of sports as veritable instrument for peacebuilding at the grassroots.
Mr. Kiyaramo made the appeal at the closing ceremony of the 28th edition of late Chief, Dr. Harold Dappabiriye Annual Soccer Cup Competition Among Youth Clubsides of South South and South East Zone at Community Comprehensive Secondary school Biogbolo/Yenizuegene field in Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa State recently.
The governor’s aide who thanked the League of Character Clubs, Nigeria, for organising the yearly youth football tournament, pointed out that sports competitions are channels to teach the youths lessons of leadership, good health, teamwork, fair play and self-reliance.
He noted that sports tourism has remained a powerful tool to unite people, because sport speaks to the youth in the language they understand.
According to the Senior Special Assistant, “Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers.
Mr Kiyaramo explained that sports tourism refers to travel involves observing or participating in a sporting event while staying in apartments different from the tourists’ usual environment.
In his remarks, His Majesty, Sir. Amb. Evang. Leslie Nyebuchi Eke, Ph.D, DCF. Eze Gbakagbaka of Evo Kingdom in Rivers State, announced the incorporation of participating clubs in the finale of Harold Dappa Biriye annual soccer cup competition into his foundation, just as he promised to support the annual soccer cup competition.
The royal father also announced plans to launch a football cup competition in the name of his late father, Dr. Eze Frank Eke, saying that football has been an interesting game, saying that sport is a veritable instrument to eradicate social vices among the youth.
He thanked the Major of Yenagoa, Hon. Uroupaye Nimizoua (JP) for his warm reception when he visited him in his office and the League of Character Clubs, Nigeria for sustaining the football tournament for the past twenty eight years.
In his remark, the Major of Yenagoa, Hon. Uroupaye Nimizoua (JP), thanked the royal father for finding time to visit him in his office and for gracing the finale of the Chief Harold Dapabiriye Cup competition in Bayelsa State.
He maintained that sports competitions among youth clubsides across the South South and South East was the best way to meaningfully engage the youths and keep them out of social vices. He pledged to support youth sporting activities in his council area and beyond.
Earlier, the President General of the League of Character Clubs Nigeria,
Character High Chief Christian A. Y. Kokoriko (Tourist) said this year’s tournament marks the 28th edition of Harold Dapabiriye Cup.
High Chief Kokoriko commended the Major of Yenagoa, Character, Hon. Uroupaye Nimizoua (JP)
for his consistent support, informing that the Harold Dapabiriye cup competition has produced many talents over the years across the country.
High point of the event was the crowning of HM Eze Evang. Leslie Nyebuchi Eke as the fifth patron of the Character Club, Nigeria and conferment of the Golden Award of the 28th edition of Harold Dappabiriye Annual Soccer Cup Competition Among Youth Clubsides of South South and South East Zone.
Other dignitaries that graced the annual football event were the National Director of Women Affairs/Protocol, Chief Mrs Victoria Agwu Kokoriko and Character Comrade Bayour John Aripamowei.