Nasarawa State Hockey and Basketball Male teams are guaranteed a place in the forthcoming National Youth Games slated for Asaba, Delta State, in September 2023.
The State’s Hockey Team topped their Group comprising three teams following a resounding 16-0 victory over hapless Team F.C.T, Abuja, before laboring to a 3-2 win over bitter rivals, Team Niger in their second and last game at the ongoing North Central Zonal Eliminations of the National Youth Games holding in Jos, Plateau State.
In the Basketball game, Team Nasarawa defeated hosts, Plateau State, 7-3 but went down 5-12 to Team Niger in their second match.
However, Plateau State’s 1-16 devastating loss to Team Niger in their last Group game means Niger and Nasarawa States will carry the tickets of the North Central Zone at the main Event in Asaba, next month.
The fate of the Nasarawa State Football Team hangs on the outcome between Plateau State versus Niger State when both sides clash on Monday after Nasarawa lost their first game 1-2 to Plateau State before holding Team Niger to a 1-1 stalemate in their second match.
In Handball, Nasarawa State lost 8-26 to Team Kwara in their first match, but stand a chance of qualifying from the zone should they beat Niger State who lost their first game to Kwara State.
The Nasarawa versus Niger match comes up in the morning of Monday, 14th August 2023 at the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos Plateau State.
Action in Volleyball will commence on Monday and only then will Team Nasarawa know their fate of qualification.
The Zonal Eliminations series is a prelude to the National Youth Games which is scheduled to hold next month in Asaba, Delta State.
Nasarawa State is participating in the Zonal Eliminations with five male Team Sports, namely, Basketball, Football, Handball, Hockey, and Volleyball.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary of the Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Barr. Isaac Danladi has sent a congratulatory message to the entire delegation, especially the two teams that secured qualifications for the forthcoming National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State.
He also encouraged the other remaining three Sports Teams to keep hope alive in order to book a place at the main Event next month.
Danladi expressed satisfaction with the attitude and spirit of the Nasarawa State’s delegation at the Zonal Eliminations, urging them to sustain the tempo as Government is solidly behind them.
