From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Samkay Athletics Club Yenagoa, Bayelsa State has unveiled tracks and filed training kits for its members.
The unveiling of the kits is ahead of the National Athletics Under 20 Olympic Trials scheduled for the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State from June 16 to 18.
The founder of Samkay Athletics Club, Dr Samuel Kola Oredipe, who is also the Director-General, of New Media to Bayelsa State Governor, who unveiled the kits said the gesture is to ensure the athletes make the state proud by securing Olympic qualification.
He therefore implored the young athletes to put in their best in Benin and justify the training and investment in them in the past few months.
Dr. Oredipe, who is the Vice Chairman of the Bayelsa State Athletics Association charged the young athletes to utilize the kits to do the state proud at the forthcoming National Athletics Under 20 and Olympic Trials
He said the kits that were handed to the athletes were part of efforts to motivate more youths to get involved in Athletics.
‘’As a team, there must be a way of identification and also promoting our brand. Beyond the running vests, we also procure training canvas as well as spikes shoes.
This is just a way to encourage them. The athletes have shown so much interest and dedication and the least we can do is to support them with the necessary materials with which they can use to excel. I am happy with the way the coaches have handled the training sessions.
I am happy that these young ones are being given alternatives to life, apart from school. That is in sports they can make a name for themselves and their family., for Bayelsa and Nigeria. This is what we have done with Samkay Athletics Club. We are getting support and all required support from every quarter. This has spurred us to do more. Our mission is to catch them young and expose them to the right training for us to have national and global champions. This is our aim in the next couple of years.’’