The Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Pinnick Amaju, has commended the Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, and the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, for organising a highly commendable National Youth Games in Abuja.
Amaju, who said that he was happy to be a part of the success story, confessed that if Nigeria sincerely hopes to discover talents and get replacement for high performing athletes like Blessing Okagbare, the National Youth Games is the answer to that puzzle.
He said: “First of all, I want to commend the initiative of President Goodluck Jonathan for the birth of this National Youth Games.
“People should know that this was as a result of the Presidential Sports Summit conveyed by Mr. President in the aftermath of Nigeria’s dismal performance at the last Olympics held in London.
“The general consensus was that we should go back to the grassroots and this indeed is the grassroots.
“In this Games, you will see that teams Like Katsina, Abia and Benue that people never gave a chance performing well.
“That is the encouraging thing about this youth Games.
“Even though there are hitches here and there like the cases of overage athletes, somebody dismissed or disqualified but generally I give kudos to the Honourable Minister and the Chairman of the National Sports Commission and the Director General of the National Sports Commission.
“This is a great job and this is the future of Nigerian sports.
“If Nigeria should stop relying on Blessing Okagbare, this is the beginning.
“I want to say that I am very excited and no regrets in Delta State participating in this event.”
Abia State won the male football event 5-4 on penalty after playing a pulsating scoreless draw with Katsina State.
In the ladies football final, Delta State piped hard fighting Oyo State 1-0 to emerge winner of the maiden edition of the National Youth Games held at the practicing pitch of the Abuja National Stadium on Friday.
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