The Gombe State Sports Commission on Tuesday said it has intensified preparations for its athletes ahead of the 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) in Benin from March 22 to April 1.
Hamza Soye, the commission’s Executive Chairman, told newsmen in Gombe that all arrangements for camping had been put in place to give the athletes good preparations.
“The closed camping which will last for 10 days is to give the needed training and attention that the athletes deserve to win laurels at the upcoming NSF,’’ he stated.
Soye added that Gombe State athletes were going to feature in 14 of the 31 events at the festival, with 142 athletes, 52 technical, medical and management officials representing the state.
“We picked 14 events, on the basis of the events we are sure of medals from.’’
He said the athletes were being prepared to win laurels “We are not taking athletes to Benin to see Benin City but to win laurels and, if that is the case, we must do all needed, including motivation.
“We know the role of motivation for any competition of this kind and that is why we have also put in place motivation plans to ensure that our athletes are well motivated for the competition,’’ Soye said.
He added that the athletes representing Gombe State were selected from grass roots competitions, such as the Tula Marathon.
“Our athletes are young and energetic. They were hidden talents that will surprise the country in Benin,’’ the sports commission chairman said.
Soye commended Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State for making funds available for timely preparation of athletes for the competition, “we don’t have any issues with funding for the camping. We are good to go’’.(NAN)
