…as athletes, officials praise Edo govt over facilities.
The huge resources expended on the remodelling of the Samuel Ogbemudia’s Stadium by the Edo State government has started attracting attention, as the Federation of International Sports Union (FISU) opened it’s week long trial Game at the complex.
The event which saw students from universities across Nigeria competing in the trials is to get the best to represent the country in the World University Game slated for later part of the year.
An official of the Game, Mr. Olufemi Dayo who was full of praise for the Edo state government for it’s commitment in putting such a world class facilities at the stadium said the complex is expected to host the track and field event of the trials while the University of Benin indoor sports hall would host Badminton, Judo and Taekwondo.
Mr. Dayo further hinted that the essence of the trials is to select athletes that would represent the country in the World University Game coming up between July and August this year.
According to him, “What we want to achieve by this trials is to ensure that the best athletes are chosen amongst the lots to represent the country at the game.”
On his part, an athlete from Abuja University, Mr. John Jimoh commended the Edo state government for the wonderful facilities at the stadium and called on other state government to emulate what Governor Godwin Obaseki has done by transforming the stadium, so as to grow sports in Nigeria.
As at press time on Thursday, events were yet to be concluded in the field and track event, as well as swimming which was still very much in progress.
However, it is hopeful that new records may be set at the end of the exercise as the zeal to scale through the trials was seen steering at the faces of the competitors.
