Fall out of Gateway Game:Team Edo to begin early preparation ahead of 2026 Festival -Chikere
…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.
