Osogbo, Nigeria – Over 80 athletes and officials from the Osun State Sports Council departed Osogbo on Monday for Ilaji, Oyo State, to compete in the Southwest Zonal Eliminations Playoffs for team sports ahead of the 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF) – Gateway Games 2024.
Addressing the contingent before departure, the General Manager of the Osun State Sports Council, Rotimi Dumoye, urged the athletes to aim for victory and secure qualification for the prestigious national event set to take place in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
“We are going there to get the tickets for the 22nd National Sports Festival,” Dumoye emphasized. He encouraged the athletes to give their best efforts in the zonal qualifiers to ensure their participation in the festival proper, scheduled for May.
Dumoye also reminded the contingent to be good ambassadors of Osun State, urging them to remain disciplined and avoid unnecessary confrontations during the competition. Additionally, he motivated them to adopt a winning mentality, saying, “Put up the winning spirit with determination to make the state proud in Oyo.”
The Osun team, led by Dumoye, will compete in six team sports, including Handball, Football, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Hockey and Volleyball.
The Southwest Zonal Eliminations serve as the qualifying round for the NSF, where teams from the region will battle for slots at the national event.
