A 110-strong Gombe state contingent, comprising officials and athletes, is expected to depart Gombe for Benin, on Saturday, ahead of the 2020 National Sports Festival (NSF) scheduled to hold in Edo.
Mr Hamza Soye, Executive Chairman, Gombe State Sports Commission, stated this in Gombe, on Monday, while briefing journalists shortly after his sample was collected for COVID-19 test.
Soye said the team was ready and the commission had concluded all arrangements for its athletes ahead of the 20th sports festival holding in Benin from Feb. 14 to 28.
“Arrival is Feb. 14, so the advance party, comprising the directors of sports, planning and the desk officer will move ahead on Feb. 12 to do all the necessary registrations and and arrange accommodations.
“I can tell you that we are of high expectation and the athletes are in a high morale and keen to compete.”
“On the 13th, the rest of the contingent will move so we can settle down ahead of the arrival date of 14,” he said.
He stated that part of the preparation involved conducting COVID-19 tests for all athletes and “this is what we are doing today in compliance with the directive of the National Sports Commission Main Organising Committee.”
According to him, his team was going to Edo to win medals and not to participate as “we are competing in 10 sports”.
While urging the athletes to steer clear of drugs, the chairman commended the state government for making funds available in time, for early preparation of athlete, saying that the team had been preparing in spite of the several numerous postponements of the festival. (NAN)
