Bayelsa Utd May Return To Yenagoa In September

Nigeria Premier League (NPL) champion, Bayelsa United, could relocate to its home ground in Yenagoa next season barring any hitch.
Work at the Yenagoa Township Stadium has reached an advanced stage, according to a club official.
It was also learnt that the Bayelsa State government is also impressed by the Premier League-winning feat of the club and may have decided to hasten the quick finish of the stadium so that Bayelsa United can return to the state.
“Work is still ongoing at the Yenagoa Township Stadium for now. At least work is nearing about 70 or 80 per cent conclusion and the pace of work could be improved after Bayelsa United won the league last season. The (Bayelsa) state government is happy with the team’s performance and it is becoming a possibility that Bayelsa United could return home to Yenagoa after two years of playing its home matches away,” our source said.
But club chairman, Victor Baribote Rumson, is unsure of such plans to return to Yenagoa ahead of the 2009/2010 season.
“I cannot say that we will return to Yenagoa before the start of the new season when we will be defending our title. I am not ruling out the possibility that we will return to our original home ground because it has been difficult for some of us shuttling from Oghara to Yenagoa and back. Some of us have left our families for months because we have a job to do,” he said.
Rumson said if the Yenagoa Township Stadium is completed as soon as possible that Bayelsa United would not hesitate in relocating from Oghara to its home town.
The chairman of the Nigerian champion also disclosed that the club has been spending huge sums of money to pay for the use of the Oghara Township Stadium as well as its camp at Enor Splendour Hotel in the same town in Delta State.
“Our spending has really been on the high side considering the fact that we pay for the use of the stadium in Oghara. Also, there is the issue of accommodation for the players and officials and these are very important things that we cannot just overlook. Staying in Oghara has really eaten deep into our pockets, but we are happy that everything has not gone in vain at all,” he said.
The club has since set its sight on winning two more trophies - the CAF Confederation Cup and the Federation Cup (also known as the FA Cup).