The Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, says his passion to engage youths in the state through various forms of empowerment remains intact.

He gave the assurance on Saturday while flagging off the draws/presentation of kits to the 76 communities participating in the maiden edition of the Senator Henry Seriake Dickson Football Tournament, known as Ofurumapepe Cup.

The former Governor, who was represented by the member representing Sagbama Constituency three at the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Salo Adikumo, emphasised the need to utilise the energy and passion of youths in sports and football in particular, expressed optimism that the competition will live up to its billing, where young talents across the Senatorial District, will be spotted and exposed to the world.

He added that beyond football, other sporting events like wrestling and swimming where the state has always proved to have comparative advantage across the world would also be organised by him.

Senator Dickson at the flag-off exercise urged youths to be resilient in their course, and charged the participating teams to remain peaceful and law abiding throughout the competition.

In their goodwill messages, House of Assembly member representing Ekeremor Constituency two, Hon. Michael Ogbere, and Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Hon. Stanley Braboke, lauded the former Governor for keeping to his words, by sponsoring the competition, adding that football remains a veritable tool in bringing youths and communities together.

Sagbama Council Chairman, Embelakpo Alale, and Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Tony Ogola remarked that the competition is laudable idea, as lots of budding talents will be fished out from the tourney.

Technical Consultant of the tournament, Mr Ono Akpe, said the Senator is keeping to his words of continuing the competition, which he promised then as Governor, when he gave his nod to the Governor Seriake Dickson Football Tournament, ‘The Restoration Cup’.

Mr Akpe said for the next four weeks, the Bayelsa West Senatorial District will be agog with the excitement of the competition, as everything that would ensure a smooth tournament had been made available, adding that the former Governor wants to continue with the legacies he established in the sporting sector during his tenure. He said that these legacies laid a foundation for sports development in the State which the present Governor Senator Douye Diri has built upon to much acclaim.

At the flag off ceremony, draws were conducted by officials of the State Football Association, while football kits were presented to the 76 communities present.

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