Bayelsa Govt Hails Queens For Winning Pre-Season Flying Officers Tournament

YENAGOA_____The Bayelsa State Government has congratulated the state-owned female Football Club, the Bayelsa Queens FC for winning the 2020 pre-season Flying Officers Football Tournament held in Abuja by winning Nasarawa Amazon of Lafia 1-0.

Briefing newsmen in his office on Monday, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Champion Hon. Daniel Igali, explained that the tournament was participated by eight private and state-owned female Football Clubs across the Federation to commemorate the first ever female Combat Helicopter Pilot in Nigeria, Tolulope Arotile.

The Commissioner who was full of praises for the Bayelsa Queens for their show of steadfastness and commitment during the competition, added that Nassrawa Amazon of Lafia were the winners of the Female Premier League Tournament 2019 season as well as the runner-up for the 2019 Naija Ratels Tournament.

According to the Commissioner, the Competition was preparatory to the beginning of the 2020/2021 female League season in the Country and called on both management and players not to rest on their oars.

He further informed that the Governor and his team were happy over the excellent performance of the Bayelsa Queens, and urged the football club to replicate the same feat in subsequent competitions.

The flying officers cup was initially called *Naija Ratels Tournaments* which has been changed by the organisers to honour the fallen Combat Helicopter Pilot for the 2020 edition.

On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Patimidi Tukuru, thanked the Governor for the support and encouragement given to the team and the entire Ministry, pointing out that, the sponsorship and other incentives given to the players were also responsible for the team to win highly rated competitors to emerge number 1 in the tournament.

Chief Patimidi Tukuru expressed confidence in the ability of the Bayela athletes to win laurels and bring glory to the State during the 2020 Edo National Sports Festival.