As battle for medals officially commences today, Plateau State athletes currently in Abeokuta have promised to surpass their last outing in Asaba where they finished 16th with 4 gold, 12 silver medal and 26 bronze.
Speaking to www.ssimedia247.com.ng, the Plateau State athletes appreciate the government of Plateau State, led by his Excellency, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang for been the first Governor in more than three decades to promise athletes their financial gift before embarking on the journey to National Sports Festival.
It would be recalled that the Governor of Plateau promised one million naira for gold medalist, #750,000 for silver medalists and #500,000 for bronze medalists, while gold medal for team sports attracts #1.5 million.
The Plateau State Public Relation Officer, Alfred Gonyok, commends the Plateau State Governor for this spirit uplifting promise which he believes will bring out the best from the athletes. The spirit in camp is very high, and this has brought back some of our poached athletes by other States to Plateau. We even parade athletes based abroad, just because of the fact that it’s visibly seen that Governor Caleb Mutfwang loves sports and its development.
Speaking as well, Plangnan Oliver, the Captain of the Women Handball team, Plateau Peacocks: “With the promise our able and capable Governor have made, we promise to make our Governor and Plateau State proud. We will do our best in this Gateway Games to emerge victorious by the grace of God.”
Here is Ayuba Koyekadia, the Team Captain of the Plateau State contingent and also representing para athletes. “Despite been a person of disability, the other teams’ Captains deem it fit to elect me to be the State Team Captain of this Gateway Games. I’m very happy to get this mandate and promise to represent the State very well. I pray the other Captains too will support me in this too . We are here for sports war, we are not here for jamboree, we are here to ensure that we bring glory to our State. Before leaving Plateau State, our Governor, His Excellency, Barr Mutfwang sent his Commissioner to come and motivate and encourage us before we left Jos for Ogun State. And indeed we really want to show our appreciation to the Governor for his magnanimity of ensuring that Plateau State has come not only to see but to conquer. So we want to assure the Governor, His Excellency, that we are not here to watch but we are here to fight like army and to bring glory to him and the state. Indeed his motivation is an encouragement. This financial promise will motivator us.”
Now talking about finishing well and better than the previous years, here are the athletes that will roll in gold medals for Plateau State:
- Naomi Monday – Chess
- Jonathan Bangeh – Golf
- Ayuba Kadiya – Para-athletics
- Gyang Nyango Boyi – Marathon
- Nuhu Elizabeth – Marathon
- Patience Dalyop – 5000m
- Nuhu Emmanuel – Para Powerlifting
- Volleyball – Male team.
It would be recalled that the best position Plateau State had ever occupied was 4th position in Bauchi in 1991.
