Male Basketball Team salvaged the situation for Ogun State contingent by winning the lone ticket for the forthcoming 6th National Youth Games slated for University of Ilorin, Kwara State in October.
The Gateway State boys had an impressive performance at the 3 by 3 elimination series held at Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort, Akanran, Ibadan in Oyo State from September 1st – 4th, 2021.
Coach Tunji Bello tutored boys qualification was confirmed having defeated the likes of Oyo (9/3), Osun (8/6), Ondo (7/0), and Lagos (6/5) convincingly, while last game against Ekiti was just a formality to pick the lone ticket in the zone.
Moreover, Team Oyo picked the female basketball ticket at the expense of other states that participated in the category.
Coach Bello in a chat with Newsnigerianonline.com.ng attributed the team victory to dedication and hard work on the part of the players who actually knew what was at stake in qualifying for the youth games in October.
He noted that though it was not an easy journey, but thanked God and management staff of Ogun State Sports Council led by its Director of Sports, Mrs. Folakemi Iyabode Rotimi for their massive support before and during the elimination series in Ibadan.
He therefore revealed that the team will not return to Ogun State and relax just because they have won the ticket, but would have to correct all their lapses back home before the youth games proper next month.
In another development, luck ran out on female handball and male volleyball teams as they succumbed to Lagos State athletes by finishing second in both events, hereby signalled their elimination since only one team will qualify for the youth games.
Meanwhile, other states that qualified for the games were Oyo female and Lagos male in hockey event; Lagos and Osun won the female and male ticket in football event.
Oyo and Ekiti picked the beach volleyball ticket in female and male respectively, just as Lagos and Oyo advanced to play in Ilorin in female and male volleyball event.
Newsnigerianonline.com.ng recalls that the Ogun State athletes numbering over eighty featured in seven team sports at the South-West Zonal Elimination held at Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort, Akanran, Ibadan.
