…Justice Ayah, Singabele, Wodi Call For More Investment In Talent Discovery
…As Erite, Martha, Others Win Medals
Bight Newspaper reports that it was a historic moment in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Tuesday with the launch of SamKay Athletics Academy to discover and nurture young athletes in track and field events to stardom.
At the event held in the main bowl of the Samson Siasia Sports Stadium, athletes from over 9 Secondary Schools across Bayelsa State participated in four events of 100 metres boys and girls and the 4 by 100 metres relays.
The founder and chairman of SamKay Athletics Academy of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Kolawole Oredipe, said the academy would complement efforts of the State Government to boost sports development.
Dr. Oredipe, a former quarter miler and Director New Media to Bayelsa State Governor, said a technical team from the Academy would scout for young and promising athletes and would be provided quality training and competition exposures.
He stated that his driving force for the project remains his passion for track and field events and to give back to the sports that gave him the platform to participate at two NUGA Games while in the University.
“Because I was also a very active athlete through my youthful age from primary to secondary school to university where of course I participated in two NUGA games at BUK 1997 and Unilag 1998 and of course I did middle distances.That is my driving force”, Oredipe said.
The Chairman of the occasion and a former athlete in the old Rivers State, Honourable Justice Daniel Ayah, said the academy would serve as a veritable ground for raw and budding talents to be discovered and called for more partnership to achieve the set goals.
“The launch of SamKay Athletics Academy and the events lined up today among the Secondary schools is the right way to go in the country. I advise you all to take full advantage of the facilities and opportunities provided by the academy. Once again, I salute Dr. Oredipe and SamKay for this good work. We look forward to the discovery of “our own” Usain Bolt and more of home grown talents like Chioma Ajunwa and Blessing Okagbare in the sprints and long jump events”, Justice Ayah, who is the current President of the Bayelsa State Customary Court of Appeal stated.
Also, the Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission (BISEC) Chairman, who is also a football stakeholder, Dr. Peter Singabele, congratulated Dr. Oredipe for coming up with such an initiative and that sports remains a great investments in the youth.
The Director of Sports, Bayelsa State Sports Council, Sir. Braveman Wodi, appreciated the SamKay Athletics Academy for hosting the one-day meet for secondary schools in the State, saying the council is open to more partnership for grassroots sports development and talents discovery.
The coordinator, of Bayelsa State School Sports, Mr. Godwin Adagbo, also appreciated the organisers and called on the Government to do more in the area of funding school sports.
At the athletics meet, Erite Perfect, an SS3 student at the Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama, emerged as the fastest male, after winning the 100meters in 11.20s, with Bamote Gowon, also an SS3 student at the Group Model Secondary School, Ekeremor, finishing in second place in 11.49s, while Moses Amarala, an SS3 student, Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Elebele, came third in 11.62s.
A Cross-section Of Athletes;
In the female category, an SS2 student, Martha Jacob of St. Jude Girls Secondary School proved to be the fastest amongst her counterparts as she ran 13.44s to clinch gold, Rejoice Josiah, SS3 student at the Ijaw National Academy won silver in 13.57s while Victory Nwaorie, SS2 student at Government Secondary School, Amassoma, finished third to take the bronze medal in 14.01s.
In the 4×100 meter relay boys, Comprehensive Secondary School, Elebele, won gold in 46.73s, Group Model Secondary School, Ekeremor finished second with 46.90s, while Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama, claimed bronze in 47.22s.
In the female category, Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Elebele breast the tape in 56.06s to clinch gold, St. Judes Girls Secondary School came second in 55.23s to win bronze, while Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama, clinched bronze medal in 47.22s.
Favour Friday, an SS3 Community Secondary School Elebele student, Erite Perfect, an SS3 student at the Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama, and Martha Jacob of St. Jude Girls Secondary School, who all emerged winners in the 4×100 meters relay girls, 100m boys and 100m girls respectively, said they were proud winning gold, and expressed hope of building a career in athletics.
SamKay Athletics Academy presented cash gift and medals to all the winners.
Kindly Subscribe To Bight Newspaper On Our Social Media Page
