Delta athletes begin trials ahead Gateway games

In a bid to defend its National Sports Festival title at the 2024 Gateway Games, Team Delta, yesterday, commenced a two-month strategic competition/trials for athletes from all the councils. The Trials is holding in Asaba, the state capital.

Team Delta, under the immediate past Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, won the National Sports Festival title on three occasions, at Abuja 2018, Edo 2020 and Asaba 2022 to close the gap on the record set by former governor, Chief James Ibori, whose tenure saw Delta win the title three times at Bauchi 2000, Abuja 2004 and Gateway 2006.

Delta also finished second at Edo 2002 under the James Ibori administration. And under the tenure of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Delta won the National Sports Festival twice, at Kaduna 2009 and Eko 2012, and finished second once at Garden City 2011 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Now, Team Delta, under Governor Sheriff Oborevwore, is aiming to continue from where his predecessors stopped.

According to the Acting Director General/Chairman of Delta Sports Commission, Festus Ohwojero, the strategic trials commenced yesterday with three sports associations. While karate and table tennis events began at the indoor hall, Asaba township stadium, cricket is holding at Asaba modern secondary school.

“The essence of this programme is to ensure that athletes in the councils come to Asaba for the three-day competition/trials, and to prepare them for the forthcoming National Sports Festivals,” Ohwojero explained in a chat with The Guardian, yesterday. “We have over 800 athletes taking part in this programme, and we want to use it to test the strength of Team Delta. Also, we want to ensure that the local government coaches are doing their job well.

“This programme is also to ensure