By George Aluo in Benin
Bayelsa State sports commissioner, Daniel Igali is on cloud nine over Bayelsa’s ‘five star’ performance at the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival which ends today here in Benin.
Igali who spoke exclusively to newstap.com.ng after watching the weightlifting event yesterday at the indoor sports hall of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium said he is happy with the overall performance of Bayelsa athletes declaring that the state has never had it so good.
“Go and check our records at the festival and you will agree with me that what we did here in Benin is like a miracle. We have never won up to 30 gold medals at the games but here in Benin, we have over 40 and we are still counting. I m confident we would finish at a position every Bayelsan would be proud of,” Igali said.
Igali who is an Olympic gold medalist said the performance in Benin is just a tip of the iceberg, declaring that the nation should watch out for Bayelsa in the years ahead.
“We are laying a solid foundation for sports in Bayelsa state. We have a governor in Duoye Diri who loves sports and he is supporting our well drawn out programs.”
Igali dismissed as ‘careless talk’ those insinuating that the state brought a Kenyan runner to Benin for the games.
“I don’t want to react to what to me is nothing but careless talk…how can anybody say we brought a Kenyan here….this is Nigeria’s national sports festival…we brought Nigerians here and they have done Bayelsa proud,” Igali said.
