The Government of Bayelsa is collaboration with Samkay Athletics Club on discovery and nurturing of budding talents from secondary schools across the state.

They disclosed this on Monday, during a one day athletics meet at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa, Bayelsa.

Speaking at the 4th Annual Secondary school Athletic day, the Commissioner for Sports Hon. Daniel Igali said he was impressed by the all encompassing participation by schools across the state.

According to him, the event has offered exposure to young athletes from rural areas.

He stated that the reason for organizing this event is to harness young talent and to help them grow their talent.

?This is how I started wrestling from the village and I was taken to Yenegoa to represent Bayelsa state, they took me to Benue and I won and became a National Champion and entered the National team, at 17 years old just like you.

?They took me to Egypt where I won and became African Champion and I also had the opportunity to go to Canada, I went to school in Canada and became a Canadian citizen,? he said.

Igali explained that while in Canada he became a commonwealth game gold medalist, adding that he also became a world champion and then became an Olympic Champion.

?All of you can be like me or even surpass my record,? he said.

He stated that under his tenure as Commissioner 12 students of St. Jude?s Girls Secondary school, Amarata are currently in United States of America playing Basketball.

?When you have talent don?t joke with it, listen to your coaches, listen to your teachers, be very disciplined and you will not know when you will leave this stage and get to the next stage.

?The time you will become Commissioner for Sports, or become Commissioner of Education and when you will become Governor of this State you will not know and it will come because of discipline, he said.

He thank the Vice Chairman of Athletics Association in Bayelsa, and Proprietor of Samkay Athletics Club Dr Kola Oredipe for putting together the event for the fourth time.

Igalu urged other sports associations to take a cue from Oredipe and , organize competitions of this magnitude involving all schools, because it is from schools that the state will get talents.

The Commissioner expressed optimism that athletes from the competition would be groomed to represent Bayelsa in the National Youths Games coming up in September at Asaba and ultimately represent Nigeria on the global stage in future.

Also speaking the Commissioner for Education Dr. Gentle Emelah said he is impress with the display of talents abound in the state.

?And it is only through activities like this we can fish out the best and what I saw today is very encouraging, he said.

?For the students, winning a competition is one thing remaining in that position is another thing, which means they have to keep on fighting to maintain that position.

?I believe that at this stage in their life if we can groom them well, these students will earn us a place in the world of Sports, Emelah said.

Emelah said that he believes that in the nearest future Bayelsa state will rule Nigeria in Athletics.

The Vice Chairman of Athletics Association in Bayelsa, Dr Kola Oredipe said he is very happy and excited that the event has grown to the fourth series.

?We have seen new sets of champions , new sets of talents that have been discovered here is this tartan track.

?From now on, we want to give them opportunities, we will train them, we will bring them up, we will expose them to competitions and I am sure in the next few months you will see the modern athletic in them,? Oredipe said.

He explained that the passed one year, the club had selected a number of athletes who have excelled and progressed in their sporting careers.

He stated that the club invited 23 schools but over 30 schools participated and over 300 athletes showed interest.

?What we do at Samkay Athletics Club is to identify talents in athletics and groom them beyond education they also need to think something about sports.

?We are happy that the turn out is good, we will go to those grassroots schools and bring them together for competitions.

?You can see the result here today in 100meters in 400meters 800meters in long jump, it is new talents everywhere and we are happy that we are doing this to promote Sports in Bayelsa state, he said.

He expressed hope that soon, athletes from Bayelsa will rule Nigeria, Africa and the World.

?That is our goal, we are very sure that we are going to achieve that.

?This is the biggest in the series we have organized, we are able to have partnership with Commissioner for Sport Commissioner for Education to bring in schools,? Oredipe said.

Some of the winner from the event are Igbete Victory from Government Secondary School Ovom who won 800 meters in the femalee while Noah Godspower representing Community Secondary School Aleibiri won 800 meters in the male category.

Ebimoboere Christopher from St. Angenes Catholic School Amarata wion 100 meters for girls while Dio Roland from Modern Secondary School Sagbama won 100 meters for boys.

Francis Unique from St. Judes Girls Secondary School Amarata won 400 meters for girls while Kabowei Goodluck from Government Science Technical College Okaka won 400 meters for boys.

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