Team Bayelsa will compete in seven sports in the ongoing South South zonal elimination for team sports ahead of the 23rd National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Bayelsa State contingent arrived in Benin City, the Edo State capital on Sunday, February 23, 2025 with a total of 218 athletes and officials comprising volleyball male, Football male and female, Hockey male and female, Basketball female and Handball male.
With the completion of the technical meeting on Monday for the zonal elimination, the various states will now proceed to the fiesta to decide the states that will qualify to represent the region in team sports for the festival.
Speaking shortly after the meeting, Director of Sports and chairman South South Directors of Sports, Sir Braveman Wodi said that Bayelsa is fully prepared for the elimination, stating that the contingents are in Benin to give the state good representation.
According to him, the essence of the meeting was to ensure that all issues relating to venue, transportation as well as rules and regulations of the game are tackled in order to avoid protest during games, describing south south as the power house of sports in the nation.
He hinted that team Bayelsa are in Benin City with a contingent strength of 218 athletes and officials to compete in seven team sports which include; volleyball male, Hockey both male and female, Basketball female, Handball male, Football male and female, saying that the priority of the team is to clinch the ticket in the various sports.
In the meantime, action will commence tomorrow in different sports. Volleyball male at 8am will take on Delta State at the Emotan College, Wire road, Benin, Abula will kick start their campaign at 8am at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium same venue with handball while hockey male team will battle Delta by 9:30am as Bayelsa female team faces Edo State at 12pm at St. Maria Goretti.
In the football event, the host team Edo and Bayelsa have been paired against each other at the Crescent Club field on Tuesday kickoff time is 8.00am while Delta and Akwa Ibom are scheduled to lock horns at 10am.
The female category will see Delta up against host Edo State at 12pm while Bayelsa are drawn bye. Beach Volleyball games will start by 9am at Ihogbe ICC Road, Benin.
