By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
Team Edo has bagged a total of 89 medals(23 Gold, 35 Silver and 31 Bronze) to secure the third position on the medal table in the just concluded maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Bayelsa state emerged best finishers with 42 Gold,29 Silver and 15 Bronze medas after overtaking Delta who are runners up with 41 Gold, 26 Silver and 32 Bronze medals.
The 8-day eventful sports fiesta which brought 3,400 Athletes, 560 Coaches, 418 Officials from nine mandate states together for competition in 17 Sports in Uyo has been considered successful, following the discovery of over 500 raw talents already penciled down for nurturing.
Addressing Journalists in Uyo, the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon Amadin Enabulele, commended team Edo for their discipline, resilience and the spirit of sportsmanship at the festival.
“I commend Team Edo for their discipline, resilience and the spirit of sportsmanship at the festival.
“This event has given Team Edo the opportunity to build friendships, promote unity, and showcase their talents. The tournament will help the team address its weaknesses and build on the successes already achieved.
“I am particularly happy that our athletes fought very well to the end. Before I joined them in Uyo here, Rivers were 3rd on the medal table. Within the last two days, our athletes, particularly in boxing, weightlifting and athletics showed resilience and gave us the Gold medals to overtake Rivers State on the last day.
“We came to the Niger Delta Games without putting our athletes under any pressure. We are actually not under any pressure because we do not see it as a must win, instead we give our athletes the necessary training, welfare and the enabling environment to thrive.
“We make them to understand that it is about their future and career. So, the Festival, to us, was a platform for our athletes to showcase their talents and assess their performance and readiness for the bigger sports festival.
“We look beyond winning medals, this event gave us an opportunity to build on what we have in preparation for the upcoming National Sports Festival in Ogun state.
“This is like a rehearsal for us. So, we have seen what they are doing right now and it will help us in our preparation for the Ogun Games.
“For us, this Niger Delta Sports Festival is a prelude to what will happen at Ogun games.
“We will continue with our development plans for our athletes towards the national sport festival. With what we have seen here today, we know what to expect and we know where to tighten up our loose ends.
“We are not under any pressure. People are running up and down trying to win medals at all cost but we are not under any pressure.
“like I said, our Governor distinguished Senator Monday Okpebholo has given us a task to develop sports in our state from the grassroots.
“We don’t mind where it is today, but where we are going to is what is important to us. And by the grace of God and hard work, we will get there.” he said.
