Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa Tuesday in Asaba prayed with the state’s contingents (Team Delta) before their departure for the National Sports Festival billed to commence on Thursday in Abuja.
Okowa, during the prayer session at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, pledged to give the team N1 million for every gold it won at the event.
The governor also promised give the team N500,000 and N250,000 for every silver and bronze medal respectively won at the festival.
“You have worked very hard in the last three weeks for the festival; it is time to harvest the medals.
“You are Team Delta, and remember that there is no team that will be like Team Delta, and I believe your coaches have been doing very well.
“For every gold medal you will get N1 million; so, if you are not prepared for gold, work harder to get gold.
“For every Silver medal you will have N500, 000 while every Bronze medal attracts N250, 000.
“We are the defending champion and the hands of God will bring back this trophy because, you are going to Abuja in the name of God.
“And as you go forth, the Lord will not disappoint you; you must first believe in Him and I expect you, knowing that you are the defending champion, to return victorious.
“Be prayerful and confident,” the governor said.
Earlier, Mr Tonobok Okowa, Chairman, Delta State Sports Commission, while presenting the team to the governor, said that the sports festival would commence on Thursday.
He said that there was need for the governor to talk to the contingent to motivate them to bring back the trophy as the defending champion.
“The trophy you are seeing here is what we are going to contest for; we are the defending champion and by the grace of God, we will bring it back.
“We are prepared because the team has been in camp for the past three weeks.
We have world champions among us and we are going to Abuja 2018 not only as champions, but to come back as champions,” he said.
In a brief sermon, the Chaplain, Government House Chapel, Asaba, Ven. Charles Osemenem, urged the team to rely on God and give Him the glory always.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event featured special prayers and worship to put the team in the right spirit for victory.
