By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
All is set for the commencement of the intra zonal elimination competition for Team-events of the 22nd National Sports Festival to be held in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital by the Zonal Office of the National Sports Commission (NSC).
The disclosure was made by the North East zonal Coordinator of the Commission, Okere Emmanuel while speaking with Sports Journalists in Bauchi on Saturday.
Okere Emmanuel said, all the Six participating States of the zone, to include Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe, are expected to start arriving The August 27th Stadium in Damaturu, from 23 February 2025 for the commencement of the games.
He explained that according to schedule, a technical meeting involving Directors of sports and Technical Officers from the participating States will engage with the Zonal Coordinator on the 24th February to draw the fixtures of all the teams and events.
Emmanuel Okere also said, already all the Six states of the zone have registered for Football, males event, Basketball males and females, Volleyball males and females, Cricket males and females as well as some other team sporting events.
He expressed confidence that the North East intra zonal elimination would be hotly contested,as the participating states have shown commitment to compete favourably among themselves.
According to the Zonal Coordinator, only the best teams from the zone will qualify and confront their counterparts from across the country in this years national sports festival in Ogun state.
Okere Emmanuel used the forum to appreciate Bauchi State Sports stakeholders for the cordial reception accorded him, since assuming duty as the North East zonal coordinator.
He therefore called for support and cooperation from all and sundry in order to uplift sports, especially at the grassroots level.
The North East intra zonal elimination is scheduled to hold from 23 to 28 February 2025, at The August 27th Stadium in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital.