173-man Anambra Team Departs For Delta State For NYG
The Anambra contingent to the National Youth Game (NYG) on Wednesday departed Awka for Asaba, Delta State to take part in the 10-day games.
The 173-man team, comprising 128 athletes and 45 officials left their Bishop Obiefuna Retreat Centre camp, after receiving motivational fare from Gov. Chukwuma Soludo.
Soludo, who was represented by Mr Ernest Ezeajughi,. his Chief of Staff, charged the team to be worthy ambassadors of State at the competition by being excellent in their various games and exemplary in character.
He called on the athletes to respect and adhere to the instructions of their coaches while urging them to compete as champions that they were.
“Anambra is the light of the nation, Anambra is known for excellence, be ambassadors of the State and see yourselves as touch bearers.
“It is important that you compete well, it is important that you win medals but importantly, you must be exemplary in character because that is what Anambra is known for,” he said.
On his part, Patrick-Estate Onyedum, Chairman of Anambra State Sports Development Commission thanked Soludo for the support the sports sector had received under his administration.
Onyedum said the team was made up of about 80 percent of the budding athletes discovered during the Anambra School Sports Festival held between May and June this year.
He described the team as youthful and hardworking and assured that their performance this time would surpass previous outings.
Onyedum later announced a personal reward of N50,000 for any athlete who won gold at the competition as a motivation for the team.
Anambra will take part in 18 sports including Athletics, Badminton, Beach Volleyball, Chess, Cricket, Boxing, Gymnastics, Judo, Karate, Taekwondo and Table Tennis.
Others are Traditional Sport ( kokowa) , Scrabble, Swimming, Rugby, Volleyball, Wrestling and Weightlifting.
