By Correspondent in Minna
Niger state contingent to the 20th National Sports Festival (NSF), comprising of 120 athletes and their Coaches have departed for Benin city, Edo state capital having tested negative from the COVID-19 test for all delegates.
The Reporters gathered that over 120 athletes,who are expected to feature in about 15 individual and team events and other officials, were subjected to the Novel Coronavirus test last weekend as one of the mandatory criteria for participation in Edo 2020.
Report of the result, made available in a document, signed by Aliyu Mohammed Abdullahi, the Laboratory Manager, Public Health Laboratory unit, General Hospital, Minna indicates that the players and their Coaches that went through the test turned out negative.
The Director of Sports, Sheshi Katcha ,who confirmed the outcome of the tests said, “We have received the results and all members participating in the festival are negative as such the team is good to go”.
Katcha further hinted that all COVID-19 protocols as mandated by the NSF host and organizers has been strictly adhered to, hence the contingent left Minna to the ancient City of Benin Kingdom.
Meanwhile, Niger state Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Emmanuel Umar has charged athletes to aim at nothing than the highest prized medals and glory for the state.
Umar in a farewell address to the state contingent at the State Sports Council, Minna on Saturday,said the state government supported sports sector not only to end idleness among youths but also to win medals for the state at the national sports festival in Edo state.
The commissioner,who expressed satisfaction with the sports council for adherencing to procurement law, purchase of equipment used by athletes for training before and during the festival,assured of continued support to the athletes to enable them achieve set objectives.
Responding on behalf of others, one of the athletes, Muhktar Ahmed, who is to represent Niger state in para-tennis assured the state government that with necessary support and motivation, the athletes would aim to clinch gold medals in the various events they would participate in the event.
Ahmed, who commended efforts of the Governor Sani Bello-led administration for supporting sports, which according to him had kept most youths out of crime,however, appealed to the officials to be transparent and just in the handling/managing the athletes.
Ahmed said, “There cannot be officials without the athletes, they are here because of us, they should treat us with respect and well, because we are the ones competing and sweating to win medals for the state”.
While assuring that the athletes would make the state proud in the various sporting events, Ahmed promised that they be good ambassadors of state throughout the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival.
The outline publication reports that State will participate in Hockey, Beach volleyball, Chess, Scrabble, Golf, Boxing, Kick-boxing, Para tennis, Weightlifting, Squash, Badminton, Athletics, and Taekwondo.
Our correspondent gathered that the advance party/first batch of state contingent departed Minna for Benin city on Saturday, followed by the second batch while the last batch will be leave on Monday morning for the festival which is expected to last for 14 days.
