As the football event of the 8th Edition of the National Youth Games kickstarts today, Chief Coach of the Plateau State Under-15 Football team, Sadiq Laankwap Othman has said his team, who got the Silver medal last year are good enough for the Gold medal despite having only 12 players at his disposal after 6 of the 18 players that left Jos for Asaba were screened out.
In a chat with www.ssimedia247.com.ng, Coach Sadiq Laankwap Othman says: “Although, the strength of the squad was weakened after 6 of my players were screened out by the screening committee here in Asaba, but by His grace, we are winning the gold medal.”
It would be recalled that Plateau State was beaten to the Gold medal at the final in the last edition by Lagos State who couldn’t qualify for this year’s edition.
Group B of this year’s draw is tagged the “Group of Death”. This Group includes Plateau State the defending Silver Medalist and Abia State the defending Bronze Medalist. Others include Adamawa and Osun States.
Group A includes: Oyo State, Taraba State, Edo State and the host State, Delta.
Here are the matches slated for today:
10am- Oyo State vs Taraba State
12pm- Edo State vs Delta State
2pm- Abia State vs Osun State
4pm- Adamawa State vs Plateau State.
It would be recalled that Lagos State, who couldn’t make it to the main event this year after been knocked out at the regional level, beat Plateau State to win gold, Plateau State won silver, while Abia State won the Bronze medal after defeating Kaduna State at the third place match.
