Bayelsa United FC
Encyclopedia
Bayelsa United FC is a football club based in Yenagoa
, Nigeria
. They play in the second division in Nigerian football, the Nigeria National League
. Their home stadium is Yenagoa Township Stadium
. Due to torrential rains making the pitch unplayable, they played the 2007-2008 season in the Delta State
town of Oghara.
after crowd trouble in their derby
with Ocean Boys
. Then at the new year's break the team was suspended from continuing their league schedule despite being at the top of the table. This was due to outstanding debts and salaries.
In a surprising move, the team sacked technical adviser Miekeme Fekete right as the squad was traveling to Brazzaville
to play in the CAF Confederation Cup
.
They won the Nigerian Premier League for the first time after 2-2 draw at Warri Wolves F.C. on June 14, qualifying them for the 2010 CAF Champions League
. The celebration was dampened however when captain Abel Tador
was killed by robbers hours after the game.
They were relegated at the end of the season by one point after losing three of their last four games and being banished to play home games in Kano
. They protested the relegation, claiming three points should have been awarded from an abandoned game in Bauchi when home team Wikki Tourists
left the pitch. After months of court action (and the temporary expansion of the league to 24 teams), their relegation was confirmed in September 2010.
Out:
:
Assistant Coach
Goalkeeper Coach
Fitness Coach
Media Officer
Aruwa Ameh
Gift Atulewa
Monday James
Chibuzor Okonkwo
Bernard Okorowanta
Abel Tador
Yenagoa
Yenagoa is a Local Government Area in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Yenagoa in the south of the area at.The LGA has an area of 706 km² and a population of 353,344 at the 2006 census....
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. They play in the second division in Nigerian football, the Nigeria National League
Nigeria National League
The Nigeria National League is the second tier of club football in Nigeria.- History :Since 1997, the league has been split into 1A for Northern teams and 1B for southern teams. The top two from each division are promoted to the Nigerian Premier League the next season...
. Their home stadium is Yenagoa Township Stadium
Yenagoa Township Stadium
Yenagoa Township Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Yenagoa, Nigeria. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of both Ocean Boys FC and Bayelsa United. The stadium has a capacity of 5,000 people. It was rededicated in 2009 and named after former Nigeria standout...
. Due to torrential rains making the pitch unplayable, they played the 2007-2008 season in the Delta State
Delta State
Delta State may refer to:*Delta State, a state in southern Nigeria.*Delta State , a Canadian animated television series.*Delta State University, a public university located in the U.S. state of Mississippi....
town of Oghara.
2008/09 season
During the 2008-09 season, Bayelsa was forced to play three home games in IbadanIbadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
after crowd trouble in their derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
with Ocean Boys
Ocean Boys F.C.
Ocean Boys Football Club is a Nigerian football club based in Brass, Bayelsa State.-History:Ocean Boys F.C. was founded in 2002 by Sylva Nathaniel Ngo,the chairman of Brass Local Government...
. Then at the new year's break the team was suspended from continuing their league schedule despite being at the top of the table. This was due to outstanding debts and salaries.
In a surprising move, the team sacked technical adviser Miekeme Fekete right as the squad was traveling to Brazzaville
Brazzaville
-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
to play in the CAF Confederation Cup
CAF Confederation Cup
The CAF Confederation Cup is an international club association football competition run by the Confederation of African Football.-Qualification:...
.
They won the Nigerian Premier League for the first time after 2-2 draw at Warri Wolves F.C. on June 14, qualifying them for the 2010 CAF Champions League
2010 CAF Champions League
The 2010 CAF Champions League was the 46th edition of Africa's premier club football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football , and the 14th edition under the current CAF Champions League format...
. The celebration was dampened however when captain Abel Tador
Abel Tador
Abel Tador was a Nigerian professional footballer.-Career:Tador was captain of club side Bayelsa United, and led his side to the 2008–09 Nigerian Premier League. He formerly played for NPA and Sharks.-Death:...
was killed by robbers hours after the game.
2009/10 season
In January 2010, the Bayelsa State government said they were looking for private sponsorship to take over the team.They were relegated at the end of the season by one point after losing three of their last four games and being banished to play home games in Kano
Kano
Kano is a city in Nigeria and the capital of Kano State in Northern Nigeria. Its metropolitan population is the second largest in Nigeria after Lagos. The Kano Urban area covers 137 sq.km and comprises six Local Government Area - Kano Municipal, Fagge, Dala, Gwale, Tarauni and Nassarawa - with a...
. They protested the relegation, claiming three points should have been awarded from an abandoned game in Bauchi when home team Wikki Tourists
Wikki Tourists
Wikki Tourists Football Club is a Nigerian football club based in Bauchi, Nigeria, and currently playing in the Nigeria National League after relegation by one point.-Performance in CAF competitions:*CAF Cup Winners' Cup: 1 appearance...
left the pitch. After months of court action (and the temporary expansion of the league to 24 teams), their relegation was confirmed in September 2010.
2011 season
Financial problems plagued Bayelsa's return to the second division. They let many players leave on free transfers at the start of the season due to non-payment of salaries. In May of 2011, they boycotted their state FA cup final and had a protest at the Bayelsa State government building because of non-payment, in some cases going back two years to their league title. At the time, they were at the top of the table in the National League Division 1-B.Performance in CAF competitions
- CAF Confederation CupCAF Confederation CupThe CAF Confederation Cup is an international club association football competition run by the Confederation of African Football.-Qualification:...
: 1 appearance
-
- 2009CAF Confederation Cup 2009The 2009 CAF Confederation Cup was the 6th edition of the CAF Confederation Cup competition organized by the Confederation of African Football . The competition will kick-off with the preliminary round stage on the 1st week of March 2009 and concludes with the 2nd leg of the final match on the 1st...
- Semi-Finals
- 2009
- CAF Champions LeagueCAF Champions LeagueThe CAF Champions League is an annual international club football competition run by the Confederation of African Football . The top club sides from Africa's football leagues are invited to participate in this competition, which is the premier club football competition on the continent and the...
: 1 appearance
-
- 20102010 CAF Champions LeagueThe 2010 CAF Champions League was the 46th edition of Africa's premier club football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football , and the 14th edition under the current CAF Champions League format...
- Preliminary Round
- 2010
Current squad
Transfers
In:Out:
Staff
Head CoachHead coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
:
- Monday Odigie
Assistant Coach
- Daniel Obiri
Goalkeeper Coach
- Kwame Apians
Fitness Coach
- Ajasa Owonaru
Media Officer
- Ebi Avi
Former players
Bassey AkpanBassey Akpan
Bassey Akpan is a Nigerian football player currently with Hoàng Anh Gia Lai in Vietnam.-Career:...
Aruwa Ameh
Aruwa Ameh
Aruwa Ameh was a Nigerian professional footballer. He last played for Bayelsa United in the Nigeria National League. In 2007 while playing with Kaduna United he was the top scorer in the Nigeria Premier League. Ameh died of unknown causes almost a week after being hospitalized for arm pain in...
Gift Atulewa
Gift Atulewa
Gift Atulewa is a Nigerian football forward currently playing for Warri Wolves F.C..- Career :He began his career with Bayelsa United F.C. before moving in 2006 to Ocean Boys F.C....
Monday James
Monday James
Monday James is a Nigerian professional football defender, currently playing for Swedish club Hammarby IF.-Club career:He began his career by Bendel Insurance before being transferred to Bayelsa United in January 2006....
Chibuzor Okonkwo
Chibuzor Okonkwo
Chibuzor Okonkwo is a Nigerian Defender who plays football for Heartland.-Career:He is a right-footed full-back who can play on either side of the pitch. He came in January 2007 from Gabros International to Bayelsa United F.C., where he won the 2008-09 League MVP award after leading helping...
Bernard Okorowanta
Bernard Okorowanta
Bernard Okorowanta is a Nigerian Midfielder who plays for Bayelsa United F.C..-Career:He started his career with Union Bank F.C. then moved to top Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv.-Personal life:...
Abel Tador
Abel Tador
Abel Tador was a Nigerian professional footballer.-Career:Tador was captain of club side Bayelsa United, and led his side to the 2008–09 Nigerian Premier League. He formerly played for NPA and Sharks.-Death:...