By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
Director of Sports Bayelsa State Sports Council Sir Braveman Wodi says he is optimistic of a podium finish for team Bayelsa in the ongoing National Youth Games in Asaba Delta State.
Team Bayelsa (as of Saturday) are currently third on the medal table behind Delta and Lagos State with great prospect of finishing strong in the games.
Sir Wodi in an interview said the contingents are in Asaba to push and finish in a respectable position at the end of the National Youth Games.
He noted that he is happy by the avalanche of promising talents that came for the games across the states, pointing out that this year’s youth games have tremendous discovery of talents particularly in swimming where Gloria Ekeleke came tops in the 50 meters freestyle race.
Wodi asserted that the chess and scrabble event has also witnessed young lads who are below ten years showcasing their talents at the games.
The director explained that Bayelsa State sterling outing in the competition is as a result of the governor’s relentless support to sports since he assumed office as the state helmsman, maintaining that Bayelsa in the last three years has shown that the state is a force to reckon with having finished second in the last National Sports Festival in Asaba.
He attributed Bayelsa State success story to the appointment of seasoned sports administrators in the sports sector from the commissioner for sports to the director and heads of various departments.
He hinted that having core professionals in his management has also played a crucial role in the state’s success story describing Bayelsa as a state that is naturally gifted with talents.
The Odi-born sports administrator, added that the premium attention accorded to the welfare of the athletes by the state government has been one of the morale boosters for athletes, especially the instant rewards of athletes as well as scholarship to young athletes and the adopt of athlete initiative.
Meanwhile, team Bayelsa on Tuesday won three gold in the swimming event in the ongoing National Youth Games. Godwin Goodluck won gold in the 100 meters backstroke boys, Olanna Onyejianye also won gold in the girls backstroke, and earlier Babatunde Durotimi gave Bayelsa a gold in 50m freestyle.
Swimming has so far given Bayelsa five gold, one silver and one bonze, Pull Bright in athletics qualified for the final of the 100 meters boys which comes up tomorrow at the Stephen Keshi Stadium.
In the girls Basketball, team Bayelsa beat Niger State 6-4 to qualify for the semi finals, team Bayelsa also qualified in the final of Kokowa event, the Darts team are also in the final in the boys’ doubles.
However, in softball, Bayelsa delivered an annihilated job against Delta State with a 15-0 win over the host but failed in hockey as Yobe State thrashed Bayelsa 4-0 having earlier drawn 1-1, the team now has a slim chance to move to the semi finals.
