The battle for supremacy at the 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF), “Gateway Games”, is heating up, and Team Delta is once again at the forefront, ready to defend its championship title. As Ogun State prepares to host Nigeria’s biggest sporting event, Delta State’s formidable squad has reaffirmed its dominance by securing qualifying spots in 12 out of 16 sporting events across male and female categories.
Speaking on the team’s qualification, Franka Okonma, Director of Public Relations at the Delta State Sports Commission, described the achievement as another testament to Delta’s sporting excellence. According to her, Team Delta demonstrated sheer resilience and skill during the South-South zonal eliminations in Benin City, Edo State, overcoming stiff competition to secure their place at the festival.
“The team battled against all odds and secured qualifying tickets in 12 sports, including football (male & female), handball (male & female), basketball (male & female), volleyball (male), abula (female & mixed doubles), hockey (male & female), and cricket (male),” Okonma stated.
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The Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Mr. Onoriode Oborevwori, could not hide his excitement over the team’s stellar performance. He described their qualification as a source of pride for the state, expressing confidence that Team Delta is primed for another historic outing at the Gateway Games. He assured Deltans that the government remains committed to supporting the athletes with the necessary resources to ensure a successful title defense.
However, Oborevwori warned against complacency, emphasizing that staying at the top requires rigorous training and early camping. He urged both athletes and coaches to remain focused, disciplined, and determined to maintain Delta State’s legacy as Nigeria’s undisputed sports powerhouse.
As the countdown to the 2024 National Sports Festival begins, all eyes will be on Team Delta to see if they can once again emerge champions and extend their dominance in Nigerian sports.
