Governor Douye Diri has given N14 million to Bayelsa United for beating AS Ashanti Golden Boys of Guinea in the preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup.

The match played at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa saw the Bayelsa team win by four goals to two.

In a statement in Yenagoa on Sunday, the governor’s chief press secretary, Daniel Alabrah, said, “Before the game commenced, Governor Diri had promised to handsomely encourage the players if they emerged victorious.”

He added that the team would get N10 million for a win and N1 million for any goal scored, a promise he redeemed immediately after the game ended.

Mr Diri, who congratulated the club for the victory, urged the players not to allow it to get into their heads but should rather spur them to more victories.

The governor also, on Sunday, presented a brand new Coaster bus to the team.

He made the presentation to the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Daniel Igali, and the club’s management in Government House, Yenagoa, before the Confederation Cup game.

The governor had, during the official reception in honour of the team after winning the 2021 AITEO Cup last month in Benin, promised the players a bus.

“We made this commitment to our two club sides, Bayelsa United and Bayelsa Queens. Today I’m happy that it is being fulfilled. Bayelsa United has done us proud by going continental. We hope and believe that by next year they will qualify for the professional league,” said Mr Diri. “So let me, on behalf of the ‘Prosperity Government’, hand over these keys to the Commissioner for Sports and the management of Bayelsa United.”

(NAN)