By Roland Ike, Abakaliki
A 95-man strong contingent departed Abakaliki, Ebonyi state on Wednesday to represent the state at the National Youth Games holding in Asaba, Delta state.
The 95-man contingent is made up of 63 athletes and 32 officials.
The contingent will represent the south east zone in the team sports of basketball (male and female) and cricket (male and female).
The contingent will also represent the state in the individual sports of wrestling, badminton, taekwondo, boxing and weightlifting.
The state Commissioner for Youths Development and Sports, Richard Idike said that the state governor has adequately motivated the athletes to excel.
“The governor who is youthful and sports loving has provided all the athletes need to excel.
“The contingent should thus appreciate this gesture by being good ambassadors of the state and winning laurels.
“The target is gold medals and this can be achieved by making team work the watchword.
Idike noted that he met the officials of the team on the need to apply fatherly dispositions in handling the affairs of the youthful team.
“The athletes should be well catered for and their youthful status put into consideration.
The Director of Sports in the state Sports Council, Emmanuel Utobo said that the contingent was poised to make the state proud.
“The athletes for the team events in particular, blazed the trail by winning the zonal eliminations and thus expected to represent the south east zone and Ebonyi equitably.
“The individual sports athletes are champions in their own rights and we are expecting a harvest of medals at the games.
“The state governor has been fatherly to us and we would reciprocate with our stuff on the podium,” he said.
