The Karate Federation of Nigeria has just released a 12-man list of talent discovered at the recently concluded 7th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State.
According to the document signed by Javan Bernard for the Secretary General of the Karate Federation of Nigeria, and sighted by Sports Marketing International, only six states out of the good numbers of states that participated in the karate event of the games made the list with Delta State having the highest numbers of athletes, followed by Lagos, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Anambra, Edo and Oyo State.
From Delta are Eteimo Victory (-47kg), Ehiozube Jennifer (+47kg), Ehiozube Joshua (-50kg) and Oba Emmanuel (+50kg), Team Lagos have Akorede Elizabeth Gbemisola (-47kg) and Alabi Sherif Adigun (+50kg). Team Edo have Jimoh Bright (+50kg).
Others are Mariam Gimba (-47kg) and Ngodoo Stefanie (+47kg) from the FCT. Team Anambra have Goodluck Chukwuemeka Njoku (-50kg) and Collins Chiagozie Ndikwe (-50kg), while Team Oyo have only Vincent Like (-50kg).
It would be recalled that while speaking with journalists in Asaba during the youth games, Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh reiterated that his tenure in the ministry would focus on giving the young talents the attention they deserved, adding that one of his administration’s focuses is unearthing and also supporting young talents, who will transition into elite stars in the future.
He said athletes discovered at the Asaba 2023 would be groomed and monitored for them to be stars in their respective sports while noting that the country must ensure that there is no void in the continuum of progress when current elites begin to draw closer to the twilight of their careers.
