NIGER DELTA GAMES: BAYELSA HOLDS SCREENING EXERCISE

NIGER DELTA GAMES: BAYELSA HOLDS SCREENING EXERCISE FOR ATHLETES 

Ahead of the second edition of the much anticipated Niger Delta Games billed for Benin, the Edo state capital, Bayelsa state on Monday, held a screening exercise for athletes that will feature at the games.

Xtrymesports.blogspot.com gathered that the move was in line with the vision of Dunamis Icon Limited, the consulting company.

Sir Braveman Wodi, Chairman of the screening committee, and his vice, the former Director of Sports, Cross River state, Mr It's Agbor, Bayelsa state Director of Sports, Mr Andrew Aye, alongside the State Liaison Officer, Dunamis Icon Limited, Mr Loveday Herbert, led other directors of the Sports Council and Coaches to conduct the screening at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa on Monday.

At the conclusion of the exercise, the Director of Sports, Mr Andrew Aye expressed satisfaction with the event, reaffirming his position that the was not participating to complete the numbers, but going to Benin to defend its number one spot.

"The athletes are hungry, they want to achieve, because they know they can be winners. We are preparing for the future, and we know we have great talents".

"I cannot be upstairs and be looking down, I want to go higher,.of course I want to maintain. But the thing is winning for the first time is easy, defending it is the problem, and we are ready."

Chairman Screening Committee, Sir Braveman Wodi, on his part commended the organizers led by Mr Ikoikpo for ensuring the games continues as it will go a long way of motivating the athletes to keep shooting their shots at stardom.

"We have carried out lots of sensitization and enlightenment on age cheats. This is an age grade competition - under 20,  and I am happy that we have seen people within the age bracket, and where we have doubts we have looked at documents to substantiate their claims and I think it's been ok, as most of them are below 18 and 17 years, see children coming to participate."

"This is the future of Nigerian sports and that is the objective. It's not to win at all cost, it's a long term project. And I just pray that in the subsequent states we will go to we should see this kind of age bracket of children coming out to participate in the games."

While expressing satisfaction with the documentation and age bracket of the athletes, State Liaison Officer Dunamis Icon Limited, Mr Loveday Herbert, said Bayelsa still remain the state to beat in Benin going by the efforts and preparations witnessed so far.

"Team Bayelsa are going as defending champions, and from what I can tell you, the spirit is high, the athletes and coaches are excited, and motivating them will not be a problem, as whatever allowances, whatever that will make them to go and perform will be given to them."

17-year-old Table Tennis player who won a gold medal at the first edition in Uyo, Udoh Victor Kemela, Perekabo-ere Peculiar Williams, a 16-year-old Tennis player, and Joseph Woyinperemobowei, an 18- year-old Boxer, said they cannot wait for the games to begin, stressing that their mission is to make their parents, coaches, and the state proud.

Also, Anthony Brendan, a Tennis coach, praised the organizers, Dunamis Icon Limited for their efforts, however, urged them to address the grey areas witnessed at the first edition in Uyo.

The local government trial is scheduled for 3rd to 5th of February, while the state trial and final selection of athletes will hold on 7th to 10th of February.

Team Bayelsa won the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Games sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, held last year in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital after amassing a total of 86 medals comprising 42 gold, 29 silver and 28 bronze medals.

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