Prosperity Cup 2026: Bayelsa State Referees Conclude Refresher Courses Ahead of Tournament.
2 min read
By Sportsgister
Over a hundred referees from the Bayelsa State Referees Council have been equipped with officiating skills ahead of the commencement of the season 8 of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football spectacle, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament tagged the Prosperity Cup.
The two-day refresher course which was put together by the organizers of the Prosperity Cup in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports Development, had separate sessions; the practical and the theoretical part of the exercise.
Speaking after the programme, renowned CAF Instructor and Member NFF Referees Committee, Chukwudi Chukwujekwu, said he was pleased with the enthusiasm of the young referees, urging referees to take advantage of the opportunity given to them by the organizers.
Chukwujekwu who described the exercise “as massive” noted that this was the first time he was witnessing a tournament where referees are trained by the organizers of the tournament before the commencement of the competition.
He hinted that he is elated that one of the trainees from the previous edition, Rachel Onyekwere has grown to become one of the best centre referees, stating that the continuous training of referees dovetails how the tournament organizers have accorded priority to fair-play.
Another CAF Instructor and Accessor, Felicia Chibugwu, lauded the organizers of the tournament for the initiative, that this year’s edition of the spectacle will witness and improve officiating from the previous edition, maintaining that the umpires have been equipped with modern techniques.
She noted that she was elated to see kids within the age of eight to twelve years participating in the programme, saying that the refresher courses on the referees would avert controversial officiating in the competition this year.
Some of the participants, Kuote Sinivie, and a 15 year old Commander Daniela and another 15 year old Sunny Blessing, expressed gratitude to the Bayelsa State government and the organizers of the tournament for the transformative initiative, maintaining that the exercise has unveiled the latest laws of the game.
The highpoint of the programme was a presentation of certificates to the various participants of the exercise. Meanwhile training for medical personnel will commence on Friday, February 20, 2026.
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
