The Director-General of Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Lekan Fatodu, has applauded Lagos athletes’ sterling performances at the ongoing South-West Zonal Elimination Ball Games in Osogbo, adding that the Commission has been able to engage the youth and provide them with an avenue to express their talents.
Expressing the state’s readiness for the National Youth Games proper, Fatodu lauded the commitment and support of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in ensuring that the state excels in Asaba.
He acknowledged the State’s huge investment in the team’s welfare and preparations, noting that the LSSC has meticulously selected athletes who are representing the State.
In his remarks, Lagos State Sports Commission Board member, Professor Abiodun Fatai-Abatan reaffirmed the commitment of the state to maintain the leading role in sports development, stating that the National Youth Games served as a platform to showcase budding talents.
Fatai-Abatan acknowledges the State’s dominance of the zonal elimination and the need to translate the results into a successful outing at the games proper in Asaba, Delta State.
Team Lagos is represented by 188 athletes at the South West Zonal Elimination in Osogbo, competing for slots in eight teams, including Football, Basketball Cricket, Handball, Volleyball, Beach Volleyball, Hockey and Abula.
Lagos is poised to claim multiple slots for the forthcoming National Youth Games as the curtain falls on the South-West zonal Elimination in Osogbo, Osun State.
Lagos volleyball team (boys) defeated host Osun 2-0 (21-7, 21-5), while the female football team defeated Oyo 3-1. Two goals from Muhammed Habeeb in the boys’ football game were what the Lagos team needed before a consolation goal from Ekiti brought the encounter to a 2-1 win in favour of Team Lagos. In the Hockey event, the Lagos female team trashed Osun 3-0 giving them an edge in their next encounter.
Meanwhile, in another contest, the Lagos female volleyball team beat Osun 2-0 (25-16, 25-10), and the Lagos Handball girls also defeated Oyo 9-5 to prove the level of their dominance in the ongoing qualifications.
The highly competitive zonal elimination has been dominated by Team Lagos and the athletes are motivated to deliver on the final day of competition.