Delta State has once again stamped its dominance in grassroots sports, emerging national champions at the Basic Education School Sports Competition organized by the Nigerian Football Association (NFA) and the National School Sport Federation (NSSF).
The keenly contested event was held in Abuja from September 21 to 27.
The victorious squad, which secured the national championship cup with 13 points, ahead of Ekiti (10 points) and Enugu (7 points), was warmly received in Asaba on Tuesday by the Executive Chairman of the Delta State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Hon. Samuel Mariere.
Addressing the young athletes during their courtesy visit, Mariere praised their resilience and described their victory as extraordinary, given that the children were randomly selected from various schools without prior preparation.
He attributed the achievement to the “grace that follows His Excellency, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori,” adding that Delta’s success reflects the governor’s strong commitment to education and youth development.
Mariere further revealed that Governor Oborevwori has approved the launch of a comprehensive Basic School Sports initiative.
Under the programme, competitions will be held across local government areas and senatorial districts, culminating in a grand finale in Asaba.
The scheme, he explained, will not be limited to football but will also cover other sporting disciplines to nurture well-rounded talent at the foundational level.
The SUBEB Chairman confirmed that the victorious players will be handed over to the Delta State Sports Commission for professional grooming, ensuring that their skills are refined for higher-level competitions.
In his remarks, Mr. Joshua Akporiaye, Sports Officer in charge of Basic Education School Sports, lauded the children’s remarkable performance and reaffirmed that the triumph has secured Delta the honour of representing Nigeria in the upcoming Under-15 Confederation of African Football (CAF) tournament.
With this milestone, Delta has further strengthened its reputation as the nation’s breeding ground for sporting excellence.
