BAYELSA UNITED 2 – REMO STARS 1
By SCM Sports Writer in Bayelsa
YENAGOA, NIGERIA — Bayelsa United delivered a dramatic and emotional victory over defending champions Remo Stars in a hard-fought NPFL encounter yesterday, with the home side securing a crucial 2-1 win at the Samson Siasia Stadium.
The victory was not just about the three points; it was a defiant statement made on their cherished, yet recently subdued, home turf in Yenagoa. The match was played under a palpable cloud of grief, following the tragic passing of the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor just days earlier. This sombre backdrop lent an almost spiritual intensity to the players, particularly the home team, who turned their sorrow into a galvanising force.
The Samson Siasia Stadium, the 5,000-capacity arena with its distinctive artificial turf, was at the heart of the afternoon’s drama.
Located in Yenagoa, the stadium has long been the fortress of the ‘Prosperity Boys,’ but this particular fixture felt different.
The atmosphere, while respectful of the state’s mourning, crackled with local urgency, pushing the home side to find the necessary fire.
Bayelsa United stormed into a commanding lead, driven by the crowd’s energy, which turned the stadium into a cauldron of noise.
Remo Stars, the champions from the South-West, struggled to contain the hosts in the oppressive humidity and on the familiar, bouncy surface that Bayelsa United has mastered.
Remo Stars managed to pull a goal back, setting up a nervy, end-to-end finish.
However, the champions could not break the home defence again, ultimately falling victim to a combination of Bayelsa’s fighting spirit and the sheer will of the crowd echoing around the Siasia Stadium stands.
The result is a major shock in the Nigerian Premier Football League, lifting the ‘Prosperity Boys’ out of the immediate danger zone and puncturing the title aspirations of the visiting ‘Sky Blue Stars.’
The win proves that the Samson Siasia Stadium remains one of the toughest places for any NPFL side to visit.
