The Benue State delegation to the recently concluded National Youths Games in Delta State, dubbed Asaba 2023, will return home empty-handed, having failed to earn a medal.
Many people are wondering why Benue did not win a medal in spite of the preparations and pledges offered by sports leaders ahead to the event.
Governor Hyacinth Alia had sanctioned finances for Benue State’s participation in the seventh edition of the youth games prior to the start of the events.
The Commissioner for Sports, Youths, and Creativity, Rt Hon Terkimbi Ikyange, verified this during a visit to him by state sports stakeholders.
Hon Ikyange stated that with the approval for the release of funds for this year’s National Youth Games, Benue contingents will not only increase their preparations to fly the state flag at the sports fiesta, but will also work to win more laurels to justify the governor’s kind gesture.
The poor performance of the state’s contingents in this year’s edition of the sports festival has stunned the people of Benue.
Several factors contribute to Benue’s poor performance in the youth game.
Benue, in addition to being one of the most populous states in the country, is seeing a demographic shift in its youth population.
These players alone do not bear the responsibility of this failure in sports among the state’s ardent followers.
This year’s games may have been seen as an opportunity for both athletes and officials to gather experience, thus there may be no reason to blame simply the athletes.