Bayelsa United begin promotion drive as pre-season starts in Yenagoa

Bayelsa United have launched their push for an instant return to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) with the start of pre-season training at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa.

The 2026/27 Nigeria National League (NNL) campaign is being treated as pivotal by the club, which was relegated last term, and officials say nothing short of promotion will be acceptable.

Assistant coach Ngozi Elechi led the opening session of the pre-season programme, with fellow coach Anderson West heavily involved in putting the players through their paces.

Light opening as intensity set to rise

The first day was kept deliberately light, focusing on fitness routines and basic tactical work as the technical crew evaluated the players’ conditioning after the off-season.

Coaches monitored stamina, sharpness and responsiveness in game-situation drills, with the session designed as a baseline assessment before more demanding work begins in the coming days.

More players are expected to link up with the squad shortly, including new signings and trialists, as Bayelsa United build towards the Bayelsa United/Prosperity Cup Pre-season Tournament in Yenagoa – a key part of their preparations before the NNL season kicks off.

Promotion target ‘non-negotiable’

Club officials say the core objective is an immediate return to the NPFL, a target aligned with the football vision of Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri.

The governor has repeatedly stated his ambition to see Bayelsa United re-established as a top-flight force, and the club hierarchy is under pressure to deliver on that mandate after last season’s setback.

Before training began, board member Godson Ekarde addressed the players on the pitch, setting out the expectations for the new campaign and underlining the importance of the season.

He urged the squad to approach the campaign with maximum focus, calling for “discipline, commitment and a winning mentality” and stressing that their response would define the club’s short-term future.

Board promises backing – and demands a response

Ekarde used the session to reassure the players that the board would do its part to support the promotion push, promising that management remained fully committed to giving the team the tools to compete at the top of the NNL.

He reaffirmed that resources would be made available for logistics, welfare and technical needs, with the aim of eliminating off-field distractions and allowing the squad to concentrate entirely on results.

At the same time, Ekarde challenged both players and coaches to justify the confidence shown in them.

He called on the team to produce better performances than last season and to find consistency across the campaign, insisting that only sustained high standards would be enough to secure a quick return to the NPFL.

New era under Maikaba

Bayelsa United are rebuilding under newly appointed head coach Abdul Maikaba, a respected figure in Nigerian club football, although he was not the central figure at this initial opening session, which was directed by his assistant.

Maikaba’s arrival has raised expectations among supporters that the team can quickly recover from relegation, with the club’s technical reshuffle seen as a key plank of the promotion project.

The combination of a new technical direction, early pre-season work and clear backing from the state government has created a sense that Bayelsa United are entering a decisive phase.

With the Prosperity Cup tournament looming and the NNL season to follow, the club’s bid to return to the NPFL will be closely watched across Nigerian football.