Over 80 athletes and officials from the Osun State Sports Council departed Osogbo on Monday for Ilaji, Oyo State, to participate in the Southwest Zonal Eliminations Playoffs.
The competition serves as the qualifying round for team sports ahead of the 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF) – Gateway Games 2024, scheduled to take place in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
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Addressing the contingent before their departure, the General Manager of the Osun State Sports Council, Rotimi Dumoye, charged the athletes to strive for victory and secure their place in the prestigious national event.
“Our goal is to secure qualification for the 22nd National Sports Festival,” Dumoye asserted. He encouraged the team to give their best effort in the zonal qualifiers to ensure Osun State’s representation at the main festival in May.
Dumoye also reminded the athletes and officials to be exemplary ambassadors of Osun State by maintaining discipline and avoiding unnecessary conflicts during the competition. He further instilled a winning mindset in them, saying, “Approach the competition with determination and a winning spirit to make the state proud in Oyo.”
The Osun contingent, led by Dumoye, will compete in six team sports: Handball, Football, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Hockey, and Volleyball.
The Southwest Zonal Eliminations will determine which teams from the region qualify for the NSF, as they battle for limited slots at the national event.
