2nd Niger Delta Games: Rivers State Confident After Strong Trials Showing
Rivers State athletes delivered a strong showing on Friday at the trials for the 2026 Niger Delta Games in Port Harcourt, with standout performances across weightlifting, football, and basketball.
In weightlifting, Sunday Stephen and Joy Yakubu emerged as the stars of the day. Stephen dominated the men’s category with a combined lift of 240kg, while Yakubu led the women’s field with 183kg.
Their displays drew praise from head coach Lasbry Kalio, who boldly predicted multiple gold medals for his lifters at Edo 2026. Other qualifiers included Chinasa Joy, Christiane Ollorwa, and Peace Awowuku, who expressed confidence in her chances of success.
Football coach Isaac Thomas Atombere, popularly known as Coach Tama, assessed his squads at 70% readiness for the men and 55% for the women, citing logistical challenges as players travel from distant local government areas.
Despite these hurdles, striker Chika Phillips and winger Serina Eferebo voiced optimism, highlighting the team’s midfield strength, speed, and creativity.
On the basketball court, female coach Dagogo Okumba admitted his team’s preparation had been hampered by the lack of a closed camp, but insisted they remain medal contenders.
His players were more bullish, with Boma Apiness declaring she was ‘100% sure’ of winning gold, while Hefziba Igoni embraced the ‘underdog’ tag as motivation to upset expectations.
The trials underscored Rivers State’s ambition to dominate at Edo 2026, with weightlifting already producing headline performances and football and basketball squads determined to overcome challenges.
