The Scouting Committee of the second Niger Delta Games, now on Day 3 in Benin City, the Edo State capital, has said that its mission is to identify the next generation of star sportsmen and women through the games.
Chairman of the committee, Mr. Godwin Enakhena and his team has been moving round the games venues from the morning sessions till the close of the day, monitoring and liaising with the screening committee to ensure that the right athletes are scouted.
On Sunday, Enakhena and his colleagues joined a group of former athletics stars, including Mary Onyali, Henry Amike, Gabriel Okon, Gabriel Opuama and Enefiok Udo-Obong, at the track and field events at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
Amidst the din of cheers that trailed the completion of the 400m hurdles final, Enakhena said: ‘We’re ready to help discover the next Blessing Oborodudu, Victor Ikpeba, Victor Osimhen, Nwankwo Kanu, Efe Ajagba, Enefiok Udo-Obong, Blessing Okagbare, Ese Brume, etc for the Niger Delta region.
‘We are happy with the job done by the screening committee to ensure that true U-20s are the ones participating in Benin City.
‘We’re going to be meticulous in beaming the searchlight on very talented younger athletes that are being showcased at the Games’.
He recalled that, at the last edition of the games in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, 644 athletes were identified as having the potentials to thrive in the future.
He believed that there exists a possibility to exceed that number given that the states are beginning to embrace the vision of going to the grassroots to discover budding talents.
‘To make this happen, we’ve put together experienced coaches and scouts. Blessing Oborududu leads wrestling scouts and Rolake Olagbegi-Kassim leads tennis. She was the first Nigerian female professional tennis player and the first to win gold and silver medals at the All-African Games. The longest serving NPFL (Nigeria Premier Football League) player, Victor Ezeji will lead the football scouts, amongst others’, he disclosed.
The Niger Delta Games has been programmed to provide a platform for states in the region to discover, test and nurture indigenous budding talents to become national and international champions.
Organised by Dunamis-Icon Limited, led by Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, the games is sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission.
