The Ondo State Liaison Committee has urged coaches across 17 sports disciplines to ensure that only the most prepared and competitive athletes represent the state at the 2nd Niger Delta Games, scheduled to hold in Benin, Edo State, from February 20-27.
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Speaking during an interface with the coaches at the Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure, the Committee Secretary, Henry Babatunde, stressed the need to improve on the state’s performance at the maiden edition of the Games.
He called on coaches to intensify training ahead of trials and to maintain strict merit-based selection, warning against favoritism in athlete selection.
“We should intensify training, even though trials have not commenced. The athletes that will attend the trials must be prepared for the task ahead,” Babatunde said, commending coaches for registering athletes in impressive numbers.
Adding to the directives, Committee member Akintunde Akinsemola urged coaches to leverage the state’s medical team to monitor athletes’ health from entry into camp until departure for Benin, with any health anomalies promptly reported to the doctors.
He also highlighted the importance of athletes being fully prepared with their NIN and other required documents for the pre-competition screening.
The new General Manager of the Ondo State Sports Council, Mrs. Evelyn Lebi, assured that the Committee would closely monitor compliance with all guidelines to guarantee a strong performance for the state.
She praised the coaches for their responsiveness during the athlete registration period and reiterated the need for diligence to achieve a remarkable showing at the Games.
With the competition just weeks away, Ondo State is positioning itself to field a disciplined, well-prepared, and competitive team that can improve on its previous performance and bring pride to the state on the regional sporting stage.
