2025 NYG: Delta Athletes Begin Camping, Bayelsa Shines In Zonal Elimination

Defending champions of the National Youth Games (NYG), Team Delta have entered closed camping ahead of the 9th edition, which will take place from 26th August to 6th September in Asaba.

Over 600 athletes from Team Delta are camped at St. Brigid’s School hostel, the Delta Sports Commission hostel, and the Hockey hostel located in Okpanam.

An official of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Festus Ohwojero, disclosed on Monday that the athletes and officials representing Delta in the 9th NYG would be announced later this week.

“We have over 600 athletes in three different camps right now,” Ohwojero stated. “Very soon, the number of athletes that will represent Team Delta in the 9th National Youth Games will be made known to the public.”

Meanwhile, Team Bayelsa made a significant impact at the recently concluded Zonal Eliminations in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, in preparation for the 9th National Youth Games.

Team Bayelsa, led by Acting Director of Sports, Mr. Andrew Aye, attended the zonal eliminations in Uyo with a strong contingent of 250 members and participated in 10 different sports.

Team Bayelsa outclassed Rivers 17-9 in female basketball before defeating Akwa Ibom State 16-2 to finish first. The boys’ team triumphed over Akwa Ibom 18-14 in their first match, beat Edo 7-1 in the second match, but narrowly lost to Rivers 17-19 in extra time and still qualified.

In football, Team Bayelsa won all three of their matches to secure a place in the NYG, while the female team won two matches to keep their hopes alive.

Additionally, in Abula, both male and female teams from Bayelsa qualified for the NYG, with the female team finishing first in the zone and the male team securing second position.

In softball, Bayelsa topped the Zonal qualifiers, defeating their neighbours, Rivers, to maintain their lead, having earlier beaten host Akwa Ibom 5-3. The state’s male volleyball team also qualified with victories over Rivers and Akwa Ibom in two straight sets, 25-8 and 25-18.

Speaking about their performance, Acting Director of Sports, Mr. Andrew Aye, expressed satisfaction, stating that Bayelsa has progressed from merely participating to competing, and he is pleased with the performance of the state’s contingent.

According to him, Bayelsa qualified in Abula (male and female categories), basketball (male and female), volleyball (male), as well as football (male and female).