South South Zonal Representative in the Board of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, Ama-Ebi Ebikpolade has given thumbs up to the sponsors of the Bayelsa State Sports Festival Access Bank.
Ebikpolade in an interview, said sports play an important role in the development of every society and country describing sports as a tool that engages the minds of youths, stressing that if the youths are involved in sports, it would turn them away from all forms of anti-social behaviours .
The chairman Bayelsa State Association chairman also noted that the only way sports can thrive in Nigeria is for the private sector to get involved in sports development, pointing out that the government cannot do it alone.
He commended Access Bank sponsors of the inaugural Bayelsa State Sports Festival tagged Access Bank Prosperity Unity, noting that the gesture by the financial institution would help the State in discovering more talents that would represent Bayelsa in future.
Ebikpolade, who described the hosting of the State Sports Festival as a giant step in Bayelsa sports, urged athletes to make good use of the platform to showcase their potential.
He called on other multinational corporations to get involved in sports development.
Ama-Ebi Ebikpolade, disclosed that the Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association would soon embark on programs in the quest to discover talents for the State.
In the meantime, the Festival on Monday produced outstanding displays by athletes of various local government areas across the five venues at the Gabriel Okara Cultural center, the Samson Siasia Stadium and the multipurpose Hall in Draught, Weightlifting and Wrestling.
While in football Ekeremor female beat Kolokuma/Opokuma 4-0 at the Biogbolo Secondary Pitch, Loveday Herbert reports that the Kolokuma/Opokuma coach Ungo Robinson had protested over the eligibility of a player from Ekeremor named Mercy Gorok.
In Judo, Julius Shawn of Brass Local Government Area clinched gold in the 56kg he beat Oyimini Emeka from Sagbama LGA who settled for silver as of the time of filing this report.
Hostility will commence tomorrow at the Ox-bow lake pavilion for canoeing as well as athletics.