The Chairman of Plateau State Football Association, Hon. Dr. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande has applauded the feat recorded by the the Plateau State Sports Council, headed by Professor Ezra Gunen, for achieving the ultimate goal of having the young athletes from the State aftermath the National Youth Games getting invite to the National teams.
According to Hon. Dr. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande: “It’s so sad that many don’t understand the essence of youth games. It’s disappointing that many go out there to win medals and come tops even some with overage athletes! The moment I saw the list of athletes invited to different national teams in different sporting activities, and seeing Plateau State dominating and in almost all the national team camps, I was over joyous. I must praise the leadership of the Plateau State Sports Council, the Director of Sports, Professor Ezra Gunen, who has brought in professionalism.”
Here is the list of the 17 Athletes selected across 6 Sports Federations from Plateau State for various National programmes and events:
Wrestling:
Franklin Philip David
Faith Bala.
Cycling:
Rachel Davou(Invited to National junior camping)
Hosea Danjuma (Invited to represent Nigeria in an international cycling event in Kenya)
Chess:
Reuben Adima Bernice
Nathaniel Danjuma Ali
Ijai Adarju
Anata Reuben
Joy Daniel
Beach Volleyball:
Yienpyen Gyang
Peter Tena Adue
Handball:
Cynthia James
Stephanie Tanimu
Jarisha Simon Benjamin
Mary Ahmed Soji
Mary Monday
Badminton:
Ella Ishaya.
It would be recalled that Plateau State contingent to the 2024 National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, finished 15th on the medals’ table with 15 medals including: 4 gold, 3 silver and 8 bronze medals.
Delta, Lagos, Edo,Bayelsa, Kwara, Ogun and Oyo States, finished 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th on the log with 111, 65, 59, 59, 33, 35 and 27 medals.
Only Ebonyi State left Asaba without a single medal.
