The Youth Sports
Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) has expressed worry over the non-appearance of Bayelsa for a long time now in its national youth championships.
YSFON’s National Secretary, Patrick Akpavhuerhe told newsmen that the state had been absent in competitions for six years now.
Akpavhuerhe said Bayelsa was once the reference point in the years past but suddenly became unnoticed in the championships.
He described national and international competitions as good channels to discover young talents that could be nurtured and urged the state to redouble its effort in sports development.
“The state has been doing well in the years past, at least most of the indigenes playing in the home and foreign clubs were discovered from the youth game.
“Bayelsa have produced footballers that played for Nigeria, I wonder why the government and influential people have decided to allow the laudable effort of YSFON to suffer such a bad fate,’’ he said.
Reacting, Kali Gwegwe, the Bayelsa Chairman of YSFON, told newsmwn that sponsorship was a major challenge to the promotion of the youth game.
“The state has only participated in one national competition in the last five years; this is not good for sports development.
“This is a state, where you can find many talented men and women in sports because of their interest in sports,” he said.
Gwegwe, who is the South-South National Vice-President of YSFON, called on individuals, private and public organisations, to move sports forward in Bayelsa.