Yusuf Ogunleye has showered lots of encomium on the state athletes for
doing the state proud at various national and international tournaments.
Speaking at his office in Akure while receiving the athletes who
excelled in various competitions like Wrestling, Volleyball, Weight
lifting, Table Tennis and Football, the Sports Commissioner said the
success was due to hard work, determination and commitment on the part
of all stakeholders.
Mr Yusuf Ogunleye who said arrangements have been concluded to give the
athletes a state reception stressed the need for more hard work.
The Commissioner while appealing to all stakeholders to be patience with
government, said everyone will enjoy the dividends of democracy.
“We are very happy with the performances recorded by our athletes in
various sports. This has showed us that with more incentives, we can
conquer the world”.
“The success recorded in Wrestling, Weight lifting, Football, Volleyball
and Table Tennis did not just come by accident, but due to the
available talents as well as encouragement from the government. It is on
this note I want to congratulate all the winners”.
Some of the stakeholders while commending the Sports Commissioner for
his vision to receive the athletes, called on government to do more in
the area of financial encouragement and provision of equipment as well
as facilities.
In Wrestling, Odunayo Adekuoroye, Aminat Adeniyi, John Emmanuel, Bisola
Makanjuola, and Samuel Bose won Gold and Silver medals for Nigeria at
the African Senior Championship in Morocco.
In Weight lifting, Fatima Yakubu won 3 gold medals for Nigeria at the
African Championship in Uganda while 17 year old Matty Taiwo won 2 gold
and 1 bronze medal at the ITTF African Junior tournament in Egypt.
Ondo State also placed 3rd on the overall medals table out of 35 states
at the recently concluded National Youth Games in Ilorin with 12 gold,
12 silver and 12 bronze medals while 3 players from the state are
currently in the national volleyball camp in Abuja ahead of the African
Championship in Egypt.
The Sports Commissioner who also used the event to congratulate the
Super Eagles for qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Russia received
the Fair Play Trophy won by Sunshine Stars of Akure at the just ended
2017 Aiteo Federations Cup.