Organisers of the Governor Seriake Dickson Football Tournament, tagged The Restoration Cup, say the second edition will kick off in a few weeks.

The Tournament Director General, Mr. Ono Akpe, who disclosed this on Friday in Yenagoa, said everything is being put in place to ensure a better tournament than that of the maiden edition.

Mr. Akpe said no fewer than 150 communities and all the tertiary institutions in the state will contest for the N10 million prize money.

He explained that the winners will get N5 million, the first runner up N3 million while the third best team will smile home with N2 million.

“I can tell you authoritatively that the Restoration Cup is back and better. We have been planning for a while now and almost everything is ready. Just like the first one we did in 2015/2016, N10 million is the prize money. So Bayelsans should get ready for another exciting round of grassroots soccer at its best,” Akpe said in a statement.

Continuing, he said: “One hundred and twenty teams took part in the first edition and it was quite challenging since it was the first time. But this edition will not be for interested teams. Instead it will be for all communities in the state. So interested communities should get their teams ready for The Restoration Cup.

“The aim of this year’s competition is to foster harmony, unity and peaceful co-existence between and among communities in the state through football.”

Mr.Akpe, while highlighting other features of this year’s competition, thanked individuals and corporate organisations that supported the first edition.

“We thank all those that supported us in the first edition, including His Excellency Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, without whom the competition would not have held.

“We also appreciate Sterling Bank, Barrister Wilson Ajuwa, Mrs Ebizi Ndiomu Brown, Dr Felix Tuodolo, Mr and Mrs Anthony Krooks, Hon. Mohammed Wakil, Trenur Nig Ltd, Red Sapphire Ltd, and indeed our sports loving Commissioner for Information, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson among others. Their assistance ensured the success of the last edition and we can’t thank them enough,” he said.

Ewoama Football Club of Brass emerged winners in the first edition and they got N5 million. River Ramos of Ekeremor finished second and got N3 million while Aluku Dynamics FC of Yenagoa came third and pocketed N2 million.

This year, the preliminary matches will also be played at the local government level while the round of 16 games will be played in Yenagoa, the state capital.

“We specially thank Governor Dickson for mobilising resources despite the very challenging economic situation in the country to transform the Samson Siasia Sports Complex to a world class playing ground where we plan to play the final this year,” Akpe said.

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