Bayelsa State commissioner for sports, Honourable Daniel Igali has showered a fresh round of encomiums on 14-year-old chess sensation, Goodness Ekunke for bringing global attention to the government by winning this year’s FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championship.
Sports247 reports that, while acknowledging that the achievement brought Ekunke in particular into international spotlight, Igali, who is the immedaite past president of Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), pointed out that the youngster has also elevated the status of Bayelsa State in sports.
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Igali further praised the Bayefa family trio of Oyinleperemor, Miebi and Eniye, who all twinkled alongside Ekunke during the championship in Abuja, affirming that their sterling performances align with the present administration’s mandate to project the state positively through sports.
The commissioner made his comments during a reception organised for the contingent in Yenagoa, where the state’s director of sports, Mr. Bibowei Lambert formally presented Ekunke’s trophy and disclosed that the teenager first showed signs of greatness in 2020, when he was just eight years old.
Lambert further disclosed that Ekunke, through the backing of his coach, Kigigha Bomo, has already qualified for this year’s FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, for which Igali promised that all challenges the lad might face heading inton the competition will be addressed.
While Igali singled out Ekunke for praise, he also commended other members of the team, while pointing out that their participation in sports has given them rare opportunities to travel beyond their communities and represent Nigeria on the global stage
“The ministry and Sports Council both exist to ensure the world takes notice of what Bayelsa State is doing in sports, and Ekunke’s victory has done exactly that. You have done yourselves proud.
“You have done your families proud, and you have done Bayelsa State proud,” Igali stated, while adding that a report about the achievement will be submitted to the deputy governor for onward presentation to Governor Douye Diri.
