Joel Ajayi

Five days of keenly contested events of the 2nd edition of the Niger Delta Games (NDG) ended with funfair Thursday, February 26 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin City, Edo State.

The host state for the first time in a long while topped the medals of any national sports fiesta with 52 gold medals.

But that was not the talking point as delegates headed back to their respective states. The discussion was more about the athletics events, most especially the final day of the contest.

From day one when the 100m was decided to the last day of relay spectacle, it was fireworks all through and justifiably so, because the Niger Delta area is a forest of athletics talents, and over the years has produced some of Nigeria’s best in local and international track and field contests.

Delta State dominated the competition in Benin City in the face of the strong challenge from Edo, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.

Delta State athletes won 13 gold medals mostly from the sprints and relays, Edo had its success in the field events, while Akwa Ibom and Cross River shared between themselves the medals of middle and long distance races.

“Nobody can take it from Delta State in athletics, they have a very good structure that produces quality athletes every year,” said Mutiu Oluwa, Edo State Athletics coach.

“If other states like Edo can do what they are doing then it is going to be a total showdown in future Niger Delta Games,” he declared.

Just before the closing ceremony Delta State left no one in doubt that they are untouchable by winning three out of the four relay gold medals at stake.

It was Akwa Ibom State that by winning the men’s 4x400m stopped Delta State from a clean sweep on the final day.

“The athletes gave it every thing that they had, because everyone wanted to make a statement.

“This is good for Nigeria athletics. Looking at the quality of the contest and running talents, the competition was very encouraging.

“This is just the start and I believe with many more to come, this country can boast of many athletes in the near future,” said former Nigeria former sprint champion Seun Ogunkoya.

Some of the star athletes that kept the spectators spellbound include Ejiro Peters who won a sprint double in the women’s 100m and 200m. She also won gold in the 4x100m.

Osama Chibueze also repeated the same for Delta State by winning a sprint double and the 4x100m.

In the 400m David Udoh of Cross River State. crashed into Delta’s party, by taking the men’s 400m, and he also contributed to Cross River State taking the men’s 4x400m gold. Treasure Okereke had earlier won the women’s gold and also helped Delta State to win the women’s 4x400m.

Akwa Ibom’s Hephzibah Okon was quite a sensation in the women’s 800m but her quest for a double was checkmated by Cross River’s Godsmind Eteng in the 1500m.

In the men’s Emmanuel Asuquo won it. Treasure Omosivwe was practically competing with herself in the women’s high jump as she was able to match her personal best of 1.75m to win the gold for Edo State.

“What we have seen here at the Niger Delta Games is quite encouraging, Nigeria, most especially the Niger Delta region is blessed with athletics talents,” said Mrs Joyce Bozimo, organiser of the Warri Effurun Peace Marathon.

“Our only wish is that there should be a follow up on these athletes.

“We can have a camp like we used to have in Afuze where they could be trained, mentored and conditioned to become world champions.”

She also praised the organisation of the events, which according to her was excellent.

Chairman of the organising committee Sir Itiako Ikpokpo who is also Delta State Athletics Association chairman, was on hand to coordinate with the technical committee led by Enefiok Odo-Obong to ensure a smooth running of the Athletics events.

Ikpokpo said that the Games Scouting and Mentorship Committee have been monitoring the events at all the venues and are expected to come up with recommendations on the next steps. He however, encouraged the states to also ensure that athletes found to have potentials are provided with requisite support to blossom.

“All said, Dunamis-Icon Limited and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) do not own these athletes and we don’t intend to. We have only provided a platform for the athletes to showcase their talents and it is the states and the Federal agency that has the responsibility to make them national and international champions”, Ikpokpo said at a media conference before the games closed.

The proprietary rights to Niger Delta Games is owned by Dunamis-Icon Limited and sponsored by the NDDC.

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