By Hananeel Jackson

The draws for the 3rd edition of Governor Dickson Football Tournament Restorations Cup have been completed inside the DSP Alamieyeseigha memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa.

The tournament which is expected to kick off next weekend will see 158 teams up against one another including 131 Communities, 23 Churches, 4 Organisation which has the Nigeria Television Authority NTA and the National Youth Service Corp NYSC, 2 Institutions Niger Delta University as well as government Central Bank of Nigeria and the Ayalla foundation in contention for the coveted trophy.

Seventeen Centre have been picked in the eight Local Government Area which has the Bishop Dimeari Grammar School BDGS, Agudama,Odi in Kolokuma Opukuma Local Government and Otuasega in Ogbia Local Government.

Presenting the Jerseys to the participating teams, Bayelsa Governor Henry Seriake Dickson charged the youths in the state to stay away from social vices describing the tournament as the biggest grassroots competition in Nigeria.

He explained that the Restoration Cup will continue even after his administration because sports is veritable tool in the

Earlier Commissioner for Sports Development Mr.Perekiye Buruboyefe in an address of welcome said the idea of the Restoration Cup is promote grassroots football in State, adding that the Restoration Cup is yielding the needed result.

On his part Director General Restoration Cup Mr.Ono Akpe who highlighted the important of the tournament called on more youths to key into sports as a means eradicating crime in the State.

Correspondent reports that the draws ceremony was attended by top government functionaries, teams’ representative, SWAN Members and other stakeholders in the State.