Games
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Abakaliki, Sept. 8, 2018 (NAN) The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) delegates in Ebonyi has forced the commencement of the David Umahi Tertiary Institution (DUMTIGA) Games to be shifted from Saturday Sept. 8 to Sunday Sept. 9.
Mr Charlse Akpuenika, Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, made the disclosure while speaking to sports journalists on Saturday during the re-conducting of the draws for the football events of the Games.
Akpuenika said that stakeholders in the state were expected to participate in the delegates elections in their various wards as both big events could not be held on the same day.
“We are expecting the state governor to declare the competition open while the people are expected to come out en masse to witness the ceremony.
“We have concluded arrangements for a hitch-free competition with the local and main organising committees ensuring that everything is ready for the competition.
“The directors of sports in the participating tertiary institutions have also cooperated in this regard, while several external observers invited to witness the competition have indicated interest of being part of the event,” he said.
The commissioner noted that the external observers, including football scouts would discover and assist in nurturing hidden talents discovered from the Games.
“I therefore, urge all the participating athletes to give their best as the Games afford an ample opportunity for them to be discovered and achieve their life ambitions through sports.
“The media should assist in giving adequate coverage of the event and expose all incidences of irregularities by athletes and officials.
“I have warned the technical sub-committee of the Games not to alter results or engage in any form of malpractice as no one will be allowed to jeopardise our efforts in organising a seamless competition,” he said.
Mr Desmomd Ome, Secretary of the state Football Association (FA), said that the draws for the football event were re-conducted because of developments that had transpired between March and presently.
Ome, who supervised the conducting of the draws said that 11 institutions participated in the March draws but one institution dropped to reduce the number to 10.
“The opening match of the competition will be between Ebonyi State University Abakaliki and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) team as the event will adopt a single-elimination format.
“The football event for the female category will involve five institutions, while the draws for other sports will be organised at the venues of the events.
“This is to ascertain the number athletes presented by participating teams to ensure that not much walk-overs are recorded,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Games which will run until Sept. 15 will also feature other sports, including athletics, badminton, volleyball and taekwondo, among others. (NAN)
RCO/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)