NSC concludes North-West Intermediate Games qualifiers in Kaduna

Kaduna State has dominated the North-West zonal eliminations for the maiden edition of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Intermediate Games, winning several events and securing qualification in a number of sporting disciplines for the national competition scheduled to hold in Lagos.

The three-day zonal eliminations, held at the Murtala Mohammed Square in Kaduna, brought together athletes from five states across the North-West Zone, including the host state, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara. Blueprint reports

Jigawa and Kebbi states were, however, absent from the zonal competition, leaving five of the seven states in the zone to battle for qualification slots in the various sporting disciplines.

The competition provided an opportunity for young athletes across the zone to showcase their talents and compete for places at the first edition of the Intermediate Games, which is expected to bring together athletes from across the country.

The host state emerged as one of the biggest winners of the zonal eliminations, recording impressive performances across several sporting disciplines.

Kaduna secured first position in both the male and female cricket events, underlining the state’s continued investment in the development of the sport.

The state also dominated beach volleyball, emerging first in both the male and female categories.

In handball, Kaduna again proved its strength by finishing first in both the male and female competitions, while Sokoto secured second position.

The performances further highlighted the depth of sporting talents available in Kaduna, particularly in team sports where the state has continued to maintain a strong presence at regional competitions.

The indoor volleyball events produced another strong showing from the competing states, with Kano and Kaduna sharing the top positions.

Kano emerged first in the male category, while Kaduna finished second.

In the female competition, however, Kaduna reversed the order, claiming first position, with Katsina finishing as runners-up.

The results ensured that the three states maintained a strong presence in one of the major team sports featured at the zonal eliminations.

The football event provided a different outcome for the host state as Kaduna failed to secure qualification for the maiden edition of the Intermediate Games.

Following the conclusion of the football matches, Katsina and Kano emerged as the two states that will represent the North-West Zone at the national competition in Lagos.

Kaduna’s failure to qualify followed defeats in both of its matches, denying the host state an opportunity to feature in the football event at the national level.

The development was one of the few setbacks recorded by Kaduna during the three-day competition, having enjoyed considerable success in several other disciplines.

Kaduna also maintained its dominance in hockey, finishing first in both the male and female categories.

Kano emerged second in the hockey competitions, further strengthening its position as one of the leading sporting states in the zone.

The host state also finished first in basketball, although it did not present a female team for the competition.

The strong showing across different sports placed Kaduna among the leading states from the North-West expected to make an impact at the maiden edition of the Intermediate Games in Lagos.

Speaking after the conclusion of the zonal eliminations, the Permanent Secretary, Kaduna State Ministry of Sports Development, Mrs Dorcas Inti Benjamin, expressed appreciation to the Kaduna State Governor for his support towards the ministry and the successful hosting of the competition.

Benjamin said the support provided by the state government contributed significantly to the successful organisation of the zonal exercise.

She also commended the athletes and officials who participated in the competition, while stressing the importance of ensuring that only eligible athletes are presented for competitions.

The Permanent Secretary raised concern over the alleged participation of over-aged athletes by some states and warned that such practices could have consequences during the national competition.

She called on participating states to strictly adhere to the rules and regulations guiding the Intermediate Games, noting that any state found to have violated the eligibility requirements could face sanctions, including expulsion from the competition proper.

According to her, compliance with the rules was necessary to ensure fairness and credibility throughout the competition.

The North-West Zonal Coordinator of the National Sports Commission, Alhaji Adamu Maikano, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the zonal eliminations, describing the exercise as an important step towards discovering and developing young sporting talents in the region.

Maikano, however, challenged states in the North-West to do more in terms of organising regular sporting competitions at the grassroots.

He said states should not wait until the National Sports Festival, National Youth Games or other major national competitions before creating opportunities for young athletes to compete.

According to him, regular competitions are essential to identifying talents, improving athletes’ competitive experience and preparing them for national and international assignments.

He attributed the limited presence of athletes from the northern region on the podium at major national competitions partly to the lack of regular competitions and sustained exposure.

The zonal coordinator urged state governments and sports administrators to develop a culture of organising competitions throughout the year, stressing that talent development requires consistency rather than sporadic participation.

Maikano’s call also underscored the need for a stronger sports development structure in the North, where a large pool of young people possess sporting talents across different disciplines.

He noted that competitions such as the Intermediate Games could serve as an important pathway for identifying athletes who could eventually represent their states and the country at major national and international competitions.

He therefore encouraged sports administrators to take grassroots development more seriously by providing young athletes with regular competition, coaching and opportunities to improve their skills.

He also commended the participating states for their efforts and urged them to sustain the momentum generated by the zonal eliminations.

The NSC official specifically acknowledged the contributions of Alhaji Abu Gumel and Engineer Musa Nimrod, whom he described as individuals who have continued to support sports development in the North and Nigeria at large.

With the conclusion of the zonal eliminations, attention will now shift to the maiden edition of the Intermediate Games in Lagos, where the qualified states from the North-West will compete against their counterparts from other parts of the country.

For Kaduna, its impressive performances in cricket, beach volleyball, handball, indoor volleyball, hockey and basketball have earned the state considerable representation, despite its failure to qualify in football.

Kano and Katsina will carry the zone’s flag in football, while other successful states and athletes will compete in their respective disciplines at the national event.

The Intermediate Games are expected to provide another platform for the National Sports Commission to identify emerging talents and strengthen the pathway between grassroots sports and elite competition.

The successful conclusion of the North-West qualifiers in Kaduna has therefore set the stage for the national phase in Lagos, with stakeholders hoping that the competition will help produce a new generation of athletes capable of competing successfully for Nigeria at higher levels.