Skip to main content

Team Edo to begin early preparation ahead of 2026 Festival - Director, Sports Development and Operations, Sabina Chikere

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye

...State Sports Commission to x-ray team's outing in Abeokuta
...Urges 2026 hosts Enugu to learn from the shortcomings noticed in Abeokuta 
By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Abeokuta
  
  
  
The Executive Director, Sports Development and Operations Edo State, Mrs. Sabina Chikere, on Friday stated that Team Edo State will begin early preparation ahead of the 2026 National Sports Festival (NSF).

The passionate sports lovers and director made this public in an exclusive interview with your authoritative and award-winning news channel FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

“Edo State is the home of sports and we want to keep it that way, we are going to start as early as possible, we are going to start training because 2026 is just by the corner,” she said.

Mrs. Chikere explained that Team Edo will face the 2026 National Sports Festival, to be held in Enugu State with every weapon in their arsenal as they eye a podium finish.

The athletes for the Heartbeat of the Nation, came fifth at the Gateway Games, winning 101 silver and 119 bronze medals, the highest tally by any State at the competition, but they failed to secure enough gold medals 73, an issue she stated that the Edo State Sports Commission will solve before next year.

“We had more silver and bronze medals, what we need to do is to go back to the drawing board and find out why we couldn't claim more gold medals and work on it. There is another festival coming up next year in Enugu State, so we are going to improve on our results by the time we come to Enugu next year,” Mrs. Sabina stressed.
 
She was full of praises for the Edo State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Monday Okpebholo who is the architect of the Team's success at the sports feast.

“I'm happy, the outing was good, we went into the competition with full zeal and support from the Edo State Government under the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebholo, and it paid off at the end of the day,” Mrs. Sabina Chikere emphasized.

The Executive Director Sports Development and Operations Edo State, also had some kind words for the organisers of the just concluded National Sports Festival, the Ogun State Government, stating that the event surpassed her expectations. 

She however highlighted some grey areas in the organisation of the event.

“Yesterday, the Closing Ceremony was ongoing and they were awarding 1st position to the winners while events were still going on. Team Edo athletes were competing in kickboxing at Baptist High School till late yesterday night finishing by 11pm, while the closing Ceremony took place at the MKO Abiola Stadium,” she noted.

The State Sports Director called on the hosts of the 23rd National Sports Festival, the Enugu State Government, through the Enugu State Sports Commission to avoid these pitfalls for a successful Festival. 

“I think they need to improve more especially the next hosts, Enugu State, they need to look at the flaws that happened in Ogun State here, in terms of accommodation and transportation, so that Enugu 2026 will be fantastic,” she concluded.
 
FOR YOUR INFORMATION 

OUR COVERAGE OF THE 22ND NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL IS PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY EMMANUEL EGBELE.

★ EMMANUEL EGBELE is the initiator of one of the most prestigious scrabble competitions in Nigeria - the Emmanuel Egbele Annual Scrabble Tournament (EEAST).

Emmanuel Egbele Annual Scrabble Tournament (EEAST), made its grand entry into the Nigeria scrabble circuit in 2021.
 
Support FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG
   
We Need Your Assistance To Provide Quality Reports All The Time.

FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG's news team is made up of journalists and editors, who are constantly working to provide new and accurate stories to its readers
   
PLEASE, Donate To Assist FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG In Our Quest To Provide Unbiased News Coverage. 
   
Account Number:
4011061428
Account Name: 
First Zealmediacast Ltd
Bank: Fidelity Bank Plc
  
Your support allows us to continue delivering quality journalism that is accessible to audiences across the globe. Every contribution, however big or small, is valuable for our mission and readers.
 
You can reach us on: 08037184353
WhatsApp number: 08155786809
Email us with your story:
firstzealmediacast@gmail.com

Comments

Post a Comment

MOST VIEWED

Nigeria backs ANOCA rotation policy as Uganda lands 2031 African Games hosting rights

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye
By Maxwell Kumoye  Uganda's emergence as host of the 2031 African Games has been linked to the rotational hosting policy of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), a framework designed to ensure equitable distribution of the continent's biggest multi-sport event among Africa's regions. Investigations have revealed that the East African nation benefited significantly from the policy, which seeks to spread hosting opportunities across the continent rather than concentrating them in a few countries. The decision is also understood to have been aided by Nigeria's withdrawal from the race, leaving Uganda as the sole candidate for the prestigious event. For Nigeria, supporting the rotational arrangement aligns with the country's longstanding contribution to the growth of the African Games movement. The nation has already hosted the continental showpiece twice, first in Lagos in 1973 and again in Abuja in 2003, making it one of only a handful of c...
Post a Comment
Read more

Glazer family members studying Manchester United stake sale, Bloomberg News reports

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye
Some Glazer family members have been debating whether ‌to sell their stake in Manchester United FC (MANU.N), opens new tab after more than two decades ⁠of ownership, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Several stakeholders in the Glazer family have been studying ‌the ⁠possibility of divesting part or all of their holdings in the English ⁠Premier League football club, according to the report. — Reuters 
Post a Comment
Read more

Protests and last-minute construction work disrupt Mexico City ahead of World Cup

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye
  Eight days before Mexico City kicks off the World Cup, mass protests by teachers and retired judges, road closures and last-minute construction work caused chaos in the capital on Wednesday for millions of residents who face long delays and complex rerouting of their daily commutes. On June 11, Mexico City will host the inaugural World Cup match between ‌Mexico and South Africa at Azteca stadium in the capital. With Mexico in the global spotlight, teachers and other groups have staged marches and blocked major avenues. They have said their protests, which are unrelated to the tournament, could intensify unless President Claudia Sheinbaum's government addresses their demands. The CNTE, a dissident wing of the national teachers' union, has threatened mass demonstrations at the opening of the World Cup in official statements shared on social media. The union is demanding the government fulfill a campaign pledge to repeal a 2007 law that overhauled the pension and ⁠social securit...
Post a Comment
Read more

Iran to play World Cup warm-up behind closed doors, head to Mexico on Saturday

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye
  Iran will play their final World Cup warm-up behind closed doors in Turkey on Thursday before departing for their tournament base in Mexico on Saturday, the Iranian FA (FFIRI) said on Wednesday. Although it was one of the first teams to ‌qualify, Iran's participation in the World Cup has been in doubt since the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on the Islamic Republic in late February. The squad have played three friendlies in two training camps in Antalya since the start of the war - losing to Nigeria and beating Costa Rica and Gambia - and on Thursday will face Mali ⁠in the Turkish sea resort. "Considering the importance of the Iranian national football team's friendly match against Mali, and in line with the tactical objectives of Iran's head coach, tomorrow's match against Mali will be held behind closed doors and without media attendance," FFIRI said in a statement. The FFIRI persuaded FIFA to allow the team to swap its tournament base from Tucson, A...
Post a Comment
Read more