Some 356 athletes, coaches and officials from Edo on Thursday left Benin for Asaba to participate in the 2023 National Youth Games.
Addressing the contingent at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Yussuf Alli, Chairman, Edo Sports Commission, said he was impressed with the recruitment process of the athletes.
He, however, urged them to represent the state well and play to the rules of the games.
Speaking with newsmen later, Alli explained that among this contingent were 271 athletes and coaches, while others were commission’s officials.
The state, he said, would participate in 21 sporting events.
The chairman said he was optimistic the state would surpass it’s performance at the last edition, even though the official medal table for games was yet to be released.
“Of course yes, that is why the governor gave us all what we needed for this championships. We went to camp in the last two weeks. It was amazing because people did not believe we would go to camp or give us money.
“The governor gave us money a long time ago. I think we will do well. We even paid camp allowances and fed them. I think we are okay,” he said.
Alli, however, advocated improvement in the organisation of the youth games in Asaba as against the experience in the last edition.
“There are a lot of controversies on the final medals table and until they give us a proper table, before we know our position.
“But right now, nobody knows who was first, second or third because the medals table were padded and the whole Nigerians wanted to know the real results of the last games.
“Hopefully, this year will not be the same. I hope things will not repeat themelves. They should have a proper medals table for these youth so that they can know where they stand when it comes to their events and the nearest future.
