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Saturday was an important day at the Rivers State trials of the 2026 Niger Delta Games (Edo 2026) as the Screening sub-committee announced that zero-tolerance will be afforded to competing States that plan to enlist overaged athletes to compete at the Games.
Speaking during the screening exercise on Saturday, Chairman of the Screening Sub-Committee, Sir Braveman Wadi, emphasized that the committee is determined to weed out over-aged athletes ahead of the showpiece event in Edo State.
Wadi noted that the committee has adopted a dual approach of advocacy and strict screening to ensure the integrity of the under-20 competition.
“The purpose of this event is to [underscore the] importance attached to the Niger Delta Games, which is an age-grade competition,” Wadi stated.
“Over the years, we’ve had issues of age cheats so, it is the thinking of the organizers to make sure that we weed off age cheats.
“That is why we’ve taken it upon ourselves to embark on advocacy to the coaches and then to the athletes.”
With the Games set to commence fully on February 20 in Edo State, the committee laid out clear-cut eligibility criteria.
“If you are in doubt, we said that athletes must be born on the 1st of January 2007 and below,” Wadi clarified. “This is an advanced screening before the screening itself [in Benin]. So we expect that all coaches and sports administrators will fall in line.”
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Meanwhile, coaches of the Rivers State contingent to the Games say all athletes selected in the different sports they’ll be competing are all within the age grade, as stipulated by the organizers.
Rivers Coaches confident of making huge splash at Niger Delta Games
Meanwhile, amidst the rigorous screening, coaches for Team Rivers’ Volleyball and Swimming teams have assured the State of podium finishes, as they look to better their medals haul from the last event in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Head Coach of the Rivers State Volleyball team, Toi- Itode Edmund Ibanibo, described the just-concluded trials as a huge success, boasting of a squad capable of clinching the top prize.
“We are sure of getting a Gold medal in this competition,” Coach Ibinabo said.
“With the caliber of players we have and the training program, we have been doing that since last year, projecting for 2026.”
On his part, head Coach of the Rivers State Swimming Federation, Gad Festus Williams, expressed optimism following trials that saw athletes selected from various local government areas.
“By the grace of God, with this result, we are going to win Gold medals,” Williams concluded.
