‎NYG 2025: Team Bayelsa Shines In Zonal Elimination

From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
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After a day of rigorous screening, hostilities have commenced in team sports at the Zonal Eliminations in Uyo the Akwa Ibom State capital ahead of the 9th National Youths Games in Asaba, Delta State.
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‎Team Bayelsa led by Acting Director of Sports, Mr. Andrew Aye arrived Uyo on Friday with a 250-man strong contingent participating in 10 different sports.
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‎Team Bayelsa in basketball female outclassed Rivers 17-9 before white-washing Akwa Ibom State 16-2 to finish first, while the boys defeated Akwa Ibom 18-14 in the first game, beat Edo 7-1 in the second game but lost the third game to Rivers 17-19 in the added minutes but still qualified.
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‎In football, team Bayelsa won three out of three matches to secure a place in the National Youths Games while the female won two matches to keep their hopes intact with a game against Edo State to decide who comes first and second.
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‎Also, in Abula both male and female qualified for the National Youths Games proper. The female team came first in the zone while the male team secured the second position.
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‎In Softball, Bayelsa finished first in the Zonal qualifiers, beating neighbours, Rivers to maintain top spot having defeated host Akwa Ibom 5-3 earlier. The state Volleyball male team has also qualified with wins over Rivers and Akwa Ibom states in two sets 25-8, 25-18 while the female event will kick-off on Tuesday, 18th August, 2025.
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‎Football (male), Abula, Softball, Volleyball, basketball female and female while handball, football female will be decided tomorrow morning.
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‎Speaking on the performance of team Bayelsa, Acting Director of Sports, Mr Andrew Aye, said Bayelsa has left participating to competing, stating that he is pleased with the performance of the state’s contingent.
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‎He explained that Bayelsa has qualified for abula male and female categories, basketball (male and female), volleyball (male), football (male and female) with beach volleyball experiencing contrasting results, pointing out that some of the sports would be decided tomorrow, particularly Hockey.