Tag Team Delta5th National Youth Games

Commendation
By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus
Ilorin, Sept. 15, 2019 (NAN) The Chairman of the Delta State Wrestling Association, Preye Ekpebide, on Sunday commended his athletes for their performance at the ongoing 5th National Youth Games (NYG) in Ilorin.

His commendation has come in spite of the athletes’ failure to win gold medals at the event.

Ekpebide told newsmen that the athletes were new to the sport and expressed the belief that they would perform better in the next edition by surpassing the feat of winning bronze medal.

He said the association would work with the athletes to ensure they became better wrestlers.

“The association has already concluded plans to improve on the performance of the athletes ahead of the next edition of the NYG in 2020,” the chairman said.

Ekpebide however commended Team Delta as a whole and the Executive Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Tonobok Okowa, for making Deltans proud.

“They have shown that the state remains the dominant force in Nigerian sports.”

He also lauded Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta for investing in sports in the state.

“The results being achieved at the NYG are a clear indication that the state’s investment in the sector was already yielding results,” Ekpebide pointed out.

He enjoined Gov. Okowa not to relent because sports was not only a huge employment platform but also a bridge-builder and a unifying factor.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Delta is as at Sunday noon leading the Games’ medals table with 73 medals, comprising 30 gold, 21 silver and 22 bronze.(NAN)
BAY/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Football
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Sept. 12, 2019 (NAN) Hassan Bashiru’s brace was enough for the male football team of Delta on Thursday to advance to the semi-finals at the ongoing 5th National Youth Games (NYG) in Ilorin.

It helped Delta to beat their Gombe State counterparts 2-0 in the quarter-finals to progress to the semi-finals in an encounter they thoroughly dominated.

Speaking after the match, Onigbe Felix, the Delta team coach, said his players performed excellently albeit with some lapses which would be corrected before the next game.

“Our players, to some extent, played to instructions, although with little mistakes that are bound to happen and which we are going to work on before the next game,’’ he said.

Felix expressed the belief that his players are on top of their game and on course to earn a medal.

He however did not fail to acknowledge that they have been having divine support since the beginning of the competition.

Team Delta will now slug it out on Friday with their Kano counterparts in the semi-finals of the event.(NAN)
OOH/ESAN/OLAL
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(Edited by Abiodun Esan and Olawale Alabi)

Games
By Carol V. Utulu
Asaba, Sept. 6, 2019 (NAN) The Delta government said on Friday that Team Delta was prepared to win the fifth edition of the National Youth Games (NYG) which formally gets underway on Sunday in Ilorin.

Executive Chairman of the Delta Sports Commission, Tonobok Okowa, told newsmen in Asaba that the state was sending a strong contingent to Ilorin to buttress this position.

He said Delta, which had won all the previous editions of the Games, would be participating in 34 sports at the games.

“Delta state has won all the past editions of the Games and we are fully prepared to win it again.

“We are going to Ilorin with a contingent of 750 persons, made up of over 400 athletes and about 300 officials.

“Over the years, Delta State has maintained a commanding position in sports in Nigeria.

“As such, this fifth edition of the NYG is another opportunity for us to consolidate our position.

“Our athletes have been in camp for a long period, and I can tell you that they are well prepared and motivated to do us proud,” Okowa said.

The contingent is expected to depart Asaba for Ilorin on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports also that Team Delta held a prayer session on Friday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium.(NAN)
CVU/AO/OLAL
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(Edited by Angela Okisor and Olawale Alabi)