Ondo State contingent first to arrive in Uyo
One of Nigeria’s foremost international football scouts, Paul Ojo Omamomo, is looking forward to discovering the country’s next football stars at the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF), which will commence tomorrow in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Omamomo, who has had the privilege of scouting and transferring players to clubs outside Nigeria, is a member of the NDSF Scouting and Mentorship Committee. He is reputed to have facilitated the transfer of over 200 Nigerian players to various leagues globally.
“With over a decade of experience in scouting and player transfers across various leagues and countries, I have developed extensive expertise in identifying and nurturing football talent.
“My in-depth knowledge of football in Nigeria, coupled with a vast network within local and international football communities, makes it very easy to achieve an all-around success in the forthcoming festival,” Omamomo promised.
Looking forward to a successful event, the chairman of the NDSF Scouting and Mentorship Committee, Godwin Enakhena, said that he is elated to have an experienced hand in a person like Omamomo on the committee.
The committee will be assisted in unearthing new football talents by the NDSF ambassadors, made up of such ex-footballers as Nwankwo Kanu, Victor Ikpeba, and Emmanuel Amuneke, all former African Player of the Year winners.
“The presence of Paul, Kanu, Ikpeba, Amuneke, and a host of other ex-internationals in the Scouting and Mentorship Committee will help us achieve the major objectives of this festival, which is to discover, harness, expose, and give a platform to pursue a career at the top,” Enakhena stated.
Football is one of the 17 sports to feature at the Niger Delta Sports Festival sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Meanwhile, Team Ondo, yesterday, became the first contingent to arrive in Uyo for the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF), which starts tomorrow.
The team, made up of 313 athletes and 56 coaches, were received on arrival by a combination of members of the Festival Accommodation, Transport and Administration Committees that ensured a stress-free transition to their camp after undergoing accreditation process.
The state contingent travelled ahead of the official arrival date due to distance and also considered the need to move on slow pace with long convoy of vehicles given the large number of athletes.
“We are committed to ensuring that all participants enjoy pleasant experiences all through this first of its kind Festival,” remarked Co-Chairman of the Main Organising Committee for the festival, Itiako Ikpokpo.
He said the Organising Committee elected to receive the contingent two days earlier than the official arrival date at extra costs.
Leader of Ondo State delegation and Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Mrs Tolu Adeyemi, said the reception they got was heartwarming and thanked the Organising Committee for their efforts.
“We must acknowledge and appreciate the magnanimity of the organisers to incur extra cost to host us ahead of the scheduled arrival date.
“This reception is indicative that the festival will live up to all that we have been told at several meetings prior to today. We are excited,” the team leader stated.
Some of the athletes, who said it was their first experience of attending a sports event of this magnitude outside their state, expressed gratitude to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for offering them the opportunity to be part of the festival.
“After qualifying from the local government trials and also making the mark in the state finals last week, it has been like a dream until we boarded the vehicle to come here.
“Arriving here is the most awesome experience in my quest to make a career in sports. It’s unbelievable but real and I intend to make the most of it,” Athletics Captain, Michael Akinsiku, said.
The festival kicks off tomorrow and ends on April 8, 2025, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
