The Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has announced a reward package for sportsmen and women and coaches from the state that participated in different competitions recently.
Olympic silver medalist, Blessing Oborududu, who won gold in wrestling at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and sprinter Timma Godbless, who also claimed gold in the 4x100m women’s relay at the African Senior Athletics Championships in Mauritius were among recipients of the financial reward.
He announced a reward of N2.5m for the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medalists, N1.5m for silver medalists, while bronze medalists got N1m.
Similarly, coaches of gold-winning athletes got N2m each, while their silver and bronze medal counterparts received N1m and N800,000 respectively. Athletes who didn’t win medals at the Games also got N300,000 each.
African Athletics Championship gold medalist, Timma Godbless, got N700,000 while table tennis sensation, Samuel Boboye, who won two gold medals at the Africa U-19 Championships in Tunisia, received N500,000.
The Governor also motivated Bayelsa Queens, champions of the CAF Champions League WAFU Zone B tournament in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, with N10m, in addition to $1,000 each for the players and $3,000 for the three goals the team scored in a particular game.
Diri, while receiving the athletes at the Government House in Yenagoa on Tuesday, said they made Nigeria and the state proud.
A statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, quoted Diri as saying, “We are indeed very proud of you. You went out representing not only our state, but also Nigeria. You left no one in doubt that you were truly representing Nigeria.
“The people of Bayelsa are holding their heads high because of your sterling performances. Continue on that path. Success is difficult to sustain. People are already planning to overthrow you.”
