Nigeria’s entry, Bayelsa, leaves for Belgrade, plays first game today

[FILE] Bishop Dimieari Grammar School ,St Jude Girls Secondary School, Bayelsa State celebraing at the 22nd Milo Basketball Championship PHOTO: Alex Monye

• Draw against Turkey, Hungary, Bulgaria, others Champions of the 2022 Milo National Secondary School Championships, Bayelsa State’s duo of Bishop Dimieari Grammar School and St Jude’s Girls Secondary School, Amarata, yesterday, left for Belgrade, Serbia, ahead of the 2022 World School Basketball Championship, which begins today.

The Nigerian contingent is led by Bayelsa State First Lady, Dr. Gloria Ebibomo Diri, who is assisted by president of the Nigeria Schools Sports Federation (NSSF), Olabisi Joseph.

Apart from Nigeria, there are 19 other nations in the competition, including Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, France, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Nepal, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia, Chinese Taipei, and Turkey. They will compete in the boys and girls’ events in the competition organised by the International School Sports Federation (ISF) and hosted by the Serbian School Sport Federation.

At a reception held for the departing athletes at the National Stadium, Lagos, St. Jude’s captain, Idubamo Pius Beggi, promised to make the country proud and justify the confidence placed on them.

Her Bishop Dimieari Grammar School counterpart, Samuel Talent, echoed the same optimism. Talent promised they would bring back gold medals, even though they are in competition as ‘lucky losers.’

NSSF President, Joseph explained that this is the country’s first appearance in the yearly school games, adding that both schools, having fought off competition nationwide and emerged national winners, deserve to represent the country.

Thanking Bayelsa State government, Ministry for Education and Nestle,