Kali Gwegwe

Kali Gwegwe was born on the 2nd day of July, 1969 in Oguta, Imo State. He was appointed Chairman of Bayelsa United Football Club (a Nigerian premier league outfit) of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State of Nigeria. Prior his appointment, he was the Chairman of Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) Bayelsa State chapter. He is reputed to have groomed the bulk of all the new generation footballers (1998-2006)that come out of Bayelsa State- the home state of Finidi George and Sampson Siasia.

He was sacked in very controversial circumstances in November 2006. Kali Gwegwe's plans to professionalize Bayelsa United Football Club and also eliminate corruption was openly resisted by some very influential persons on and outside the board of the club. He is however still the Chairman of the Bayelsa State chapter of YSFON. Being an NGO, Government has very little or no control over its activities.

Kali Gwegwe came to limelight when between 1999 and 2006, he groomed local boys and won a number of competitions in Nigeria and Europe. He is also reputed to have been the first Nigerian to bring a youth team from Europe (Holmlia Sports Club of Oslo, Norway) to participate in a local football competition in Nigeria. During his short tenure as Chairman of Bayelsa United Football Club, players experience improved welfare package. Salaries, allowances, and bonuses were reviewed upward by over 100%. This he said was to reflect their professional status. He eventually made his club to be the first to remain top of league table from the beginning to the end of the first stanza.

A native of Obogoro in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Niger Delta area of Nigeria. Kali Gwegwe is also a public affairs analyst/commentator on contemporary issues. He is the founder of Pro-Nigeria- an online based group dedicated towards improving the socio-political structure of Sub-Saharan Africa; using Nigeria as a case study. His articles on contemporary issues are published at: www.pro-nigeria.blobspot.com.

He is married to former Miss Ebimoboere Alali from Angiama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. They have three boys: Michael (1996) Henry (2002) Prince (2004)