Rivers State sports officials will finalize the selection process for the Niger Delta Games this Saturday, February 7, as the football trials bring the week-long exercise to a close. This final phase follows an intensive schedule that began on Monday, February 2, with opening competitions in chess, table tennis, tennis, and scrabble. The rigorous screening continued through Tuesday with handball and wrestling, while volleyball and taekwondo took center stage on Wednesday.
The state intensified its search for top-tier talent on Thursday with trials in swimming and powerlifting, followed by Friday’s sessions for basketball, boxing, and weightlifting. These evaluations serve the singular purpose of identifying the elite athletes who will form “Team Rivers.” This contingent will represent the state across all 16 sporting disciplines officially sanctioned for the upcoming regional festival.
State Liaison Committee members expressed significant satisfaction with the caliber of talent displayed during the week, fueling confidence in the state’s potential to dominate the regional rankings. Mrs. Ibia Inyengiyikabo, the Rivers State Director of Sports, affirmed the readiness of the selected athletes to compete at the highest level.
Following the athletics segment in Port Harcourt, she said, “We have seen athletes who can do even better in the future, and with consistent training, we are optimistic about winning medals.”
The completion of these trials ensures that Rivers State remains on track for the main event in Benin City later this month. With the football squad being the final piece of the puzzle, the sports council now shifts its focus toward final preparations and specialized training camps.
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