Ogbemudia Stadium reconstruction hasn’t affected Edo athletes’ training for NYG, Commission official says

Training
By Monday Ajogun
Benin, Sept. 5, 2019 (NAN) Ongoing reconstruction works at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin have not stopped coaches from training athletes for the National Youth Games (NYG), an Edo Sports Commission official has said.

Godwin Dudu-Orumen, who is the commission’s Chairman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Benin that training of athletes had been difficult since the stadium came under
reconstruction.

“We’ve been working quite hard. I have had sessions with coaches and with the commission’s Deputy Director of Technical and we let them know that not training at the stadium should not be an excuse.

“And with the kind approval of the Secretary to Edo State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, we got three buses to take athletes to University of Benin Sports Complex for training.

“Facilities at the university sports complex are also modern ones which they can train with. We are looking at their timing, we are looking at their form and we monitor them daily to see what they are doing over there.

“I am sure that by the time the Games commence, we will be ready to show to the rest of our opponents at the NYG what stuff we are made of.

“So, not training at the Ogbemudia Stadium should not be a reason for failure because, all things been equal, training does not have to be at the Ogbemudia Stadium. There are other grounds for training which we made available to them,’’ he said.

The Dudu-Orumen urged all the athletes to abide by their coaches’ instructions and remain united as a team during and after the competition.

NAN reports that the NYG, which is now in its fifth edition, will hold in Ilorin from Saturday to Sept. 17.(NAN)
AJOM/OIF/OLAL
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(Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo and Olawale Alabi)