Hopes of Taraba State participating in the zonal elimination of the National Youth Games, scheduled to begin tomorrow (Saturday) in Gombe State, have been thrown into uncertainty following an alleged delay in the release of funds by the state government.

Athletes and officials, who have been in camp at the Jolly Nyame Stadium, Jalingo, expressed frustration over what they described as the government’s lukewarm attitude toward sports development.

The contingent, which was expected to depart for Gombe ahead of the competition, remained stranded in Jalingo as at the time of filing this report.

Some of the athletes, speaking to The Guardian, lamented that while other states had since arrived at the venue, their own participation was now in doubt.

They also recalled the state’s late arrival at the recent National Sports Festival in Ogun State, which they believe contributed to Taraba’s poor medal tally.

“We are fully prepared and confident we can win medals if given the chance,” one athlete said, appealing to Governor Agbu Kefas to urgently intervene and make the required funds available.

Sports council officials disclosed that a memo requesting funds had been forwarded to the state government through the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Government House. However, they expressed concern that the process had stalled.

“The event begins tomorrow, and we are still here,” one official noted. “Our athletes are ready, but without funds, we can’t move.”

Another official insisted that Governor Kefas, known for his support of youth and sports, might not be aware of the situation, suggesting the memo could be stuck in bureaucratic bottlenecks.

A senior government source confirmed to The Guardian that the request had not yet reached the governor’s desk at the time of filing this report.