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Founder of SamKay Athletics Club, Dr. Samuel Kolawole Oredipe, says the outstanding performance of Team Bayelsa in athletics at the ongoing Niger Delta Sports Festival is as a result of the several investments and commitments made by the Governor, Senator Douye Diri, in the sports sector.
Dr. Oredipe who is the Vice Chairman of the Bayelsa State Athletics Association and Director-General of the Bayelsa Government New Media, commended the athletics team for making the state proud so far at the ongoing inaugural Festival, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
No fewer than five medals have been won in the track and field event as at 7pm on Sunday, 6th April, while the team will also feature in the four relay finals on Monday.
Bayelsa won the women 200m gold, courtesy of the daring and energetic Sofia Efetobore, who also picked a sliver in the 100m women event.
In the men category, Daje Lucky won silver in both the 100m and the 200m, while Austin Ezuruike picked bronze in 100metres men.
Team Bayelsa relay teams have qualified for both men and women 4x100m finals, as well as 4x400m men and women finals.
Speaking to newsmen at the Godswill Akpabio stadium, venue of the event on the performance of the team so far, Dr. Oredipe, said Bayelsa had joined the league of big states in athletics and has announced its intention to dominate the track and field events.
“With our performance here, it shows we are doing something right in Bayelsa athletics. We have become a force. I think you all saw it, even when they were giving out medals, it’s been Bayelsa, Bayelsa, Bayelsa, not just in athletics, but in other events.”
“And we are happy that we are having a rehearsal for what to expect at the National Sports Festival next month in Abeokuta. This outing shows that we will go back, prepare more and shine again in Abeokuta with plenty medals. You can see the results of hard work by our team of coaches and officials. Good enough, this is the first edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival, we will go back and improve ahead of next year. I can tell you that we will go back and improve for next year.”
“Beyond the Governor who is a sports loving, also an active sports person, this performance shows that his investments in sports development are right investments and like you know, we are building a new facility, a modern stadium, that will enhance training of athletes.”
Dr. Oredipe also expressed his delight with the performances of athletes discovered through SamKay Athletics Club who were also in Uyo to represent Bayelsa State for the festival.
“Our young athletes in SamKay are participating in the festival. Young Perezide Sigah, was in both 100m and 200m women event just as Faith Ezechukwu ran the race of her life in the 400m Women finals.
Also, Faye Perfect did brilliantly in the 4x400m relay Heat for men, Goodluck Kabowei is in the finals of the 110m hurdles men and Mekioniso Messiah leapt 6.68 metres to place 5th in the men’s Long Jump.
Samson Teibowei, was outstanding in the 800 metres men’s final and again ran sub two minutes.
Dr. Oredipe said, “At SamKay, we are discovering young talents, nurture them, give them opportunities like this, a lot of them participated here, and it shows that we doing something right, getting them at a young age and giving them the opportunities. So in SamKay Athletics we doing our best to ensure that we produce the next generation of champions.”
While acknowledging the difficulties and challenges in embarking on a talent search and exposure, the Director General, New Media to the Bayelsa Governor reiterated the need for private sector involvement in sports development.
