Team Delta, the defending champions has departed it’s camp, the Stephen Keshi Stadium to the 5th National Youth Games (NYG) that would kick off in Ilorin from Monday, September 9 and the state is eyeing the most top position in this edition of the games.
The 400 kids who would be representing the state in various sporting events were fished out from the recent schools’ sports festivals held in the state. They will participate in 34 sports, including swimming, wrestling,combat, track and field
A total of 750 contingents from the state departed the Stephen Keshi Stadium at exactly 6am, to the NYG.
The executive chairman, Delta State Sports Commission, Tonobok Okowa, told journalists that Team Delta was in high spirit to retain the trophy and remain champion.
Speaking on the team’s preparations, he said athletes had been in camp, training with premium standard facilities, for several weeks and had been well motivated for the Games.
The Delta Sports Commission chairman noted that the completion of Stephen Keshi stadium had stepped up sporting activities in the state capital.
He promised that Delta would come top at the NYG. “Anything less than first position is not winning and we are prepared to win”, he added.
He, however, expressed fear over age cheating during screening and called for proper screening in order to ensure that overage athletes are not allowed to participate.
“You can see and attest to the fact that we have selected our team from the abundant talents across the state. You all were witnesses to the school sports festival early this year, where we discovered and groomed most of the athletes we are taking to the Ilorin games”, the Delta sports administrator said.
The NYG commenced the first edition in year 2012 and Delta State has won the previous editions, retaining the trophy in the last edition.
Mercy Enoch, Asaba
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