Ofurumapepe in Ijaw language means, the great white shark. The shark is strong and rugged. It remains afloat and never swallowed by the tempestuous sea. The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, adopted it as his sobriquet when he sought a reelection. He emerged victorious.
In the same spirits, when Bayelsa State was invited recently to participate in an Under-20 football tournament sponsored by the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom, a new team assembled to represent Bayelsa decided to name itself after Dickson’s sobriquet, Ofurumapepe.
There was something spectacular about the Ofurumapepe football team. The team was solely sponsored by Dickson’s Special Adviser on Youths, Ibarakumo Otobo. Otobo took it as his personal project. He did not wait for funding from the government. In fact, his passion to empower the youths and develop their talents compelled him to found the team.
Again, the team was brought together after rigorous screenings. Youths from all the local government areas, indigenes and non-indigenes residing in the state were given an opportunity to compete for shirts. The best among them were selected to form the Ofurumapepe.
The result was resounding. They played fantastic football similar to the ‘tiki-taka’ soccer of known clubs like Barcelona FC and Arsenal FC. Indeed, they thrashed all their opponents losing only their first game because of late arrival. Niger Delta Report gathered that at Uyo, where the tournament was held, Ofurumapepe was a spectacle.
Among the 18 teams including teams representing Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Kano, and Akwa Ibom states, Ofurumapepe made Bayelsa proud by emerging as the winner of the Governor Udom Under-20 Football Tournament. They brought the cup home.
The Coach of the team, Mr. Gwegwe Ada, said the feat would not have been possible without Ototo. He said the special adviser took full responsibility of all the expenses incurred by the team.
Ada said: “If it is not for him, I don’t think this trophy will be here. He footed all the bills. He had shown love to the youths of Bayelsa. One individual came to the rescue to sponsor a team to represent the state. It is a welcome development.
“We named the team after the governor’s title, Ofurumapepe. The governor answered Ofurumapepe and won his election. We decided to answer the name. We went and we conquered. We promise that we will continue to make Bayelsa state proud”.
He said the team had been selected to represent Nigeria in international football tournament and appealed to Dickson to support the team to ensure brighter future for the youths.
“We are appealing to individuals, multinational companies to come and support us. We know the crime rates in the society, cultism, sea piracy. We can take the boys out of the streets through grass root sports development”, he said.
In his remarks, Ototo said he was proud of the achievements of the team. He said persons who kept evading responsibilities by saying there was no money in Dickson’s government were ungrateful.
He said: “We are all salary earners. So what do people do with their salaries? I passed through a lot of difficulties. Some people even discouraged me not to engage in it. They told me that in football you only spend money and don’t get returns especially in Nigeria.
“But I told them that I was not doing it in order to benefit but I want the youths to benefit. I made a vow that if I assume any good position in government, I will do my best to ensure that the youths of the state are taken to the permanent site.
“I am happy that Bayelsa has become champions. The opportunity given to the players to showcase their talents and skills is the key factor. I want to advise all the coaches in the state and the management board of the sports council, whenever you are making selections, ensure that the right persons are selected.
“You cannot select people who are not qualified because of the positions of their brothers. I have brothers who are footballers but they are not in the team. I ensured that qualified people were selected and you look at the outcome”.
He described the team as one of the best teams in football. He said he spent five days in Uyo to pep up the players and relate with them. He said the programme was in line with his personal project, Operation Leave the Streets.
He added: “This is one of the best team I have ever seen in this town because their ball possession was exceptional. I never knew the state could produce a team of this nature. I am a grass root person. I spent five days in Uyo to be with the them and to encourage them.
“I want the youths to leave the streets because when they are out of the streets, we will find no reason to bring military men to come and secure our states. Our state will be secured. Our leadership should engage in these things.
“You don’t just condemn them. Have you asked yourself a question, how many persons have you used your position to take out of the streets. You are condemning militants but what have you done to help them.
“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the youths of Bayelsa to shun violence. All vices should be kept in the dark and we should come to the open to pursue real life”.
