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| YOBE Female Hockey Team before their match with Kaduna at Abeokuta |
KFrom Joe Hemba, Abeokuta
The Yobe contingent at the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival in Abeokuta is enduring a truly challenging start, as the team has stumbled in all their opening fixtures, raising concerns among fans and officials alike.
This dismal performance is being widely attributed to acute fatigue, a direct consequence of a grueling four-day road journey to the festival venue.
A reliable source close to the team revealed a travel nightmare that began with their seemingly luxurious bus breaking down not once, but twice on the arduous trek to Abeokuta.
Their troubles were further compounded when they found themselves unexpectedly gridlocked for hours by an accidented vehicle in Ekiti State, turning what should have been a manageable trip into an endurance Nation
Investigation gatered that In a desperate bid to salvage their participation, some Yobe athletes were reportedly ferried into Abeokuta on a trailer to make it for the festival's opening ceremony on Sunday evening.
The remaining athletes, arriving at an odd hour of 4:00 AM on Monday morning, were then thrown into competitive matches merely hours later, a scenario that undoubtedly hampered their good performance.
ImpactOnlineng reports that the consequences of this travel ordeal were clearly evident on the field as Yobe's male hockey team suffered a defeat at the hands of a determined Ogun State squad.
Meanwhile, the football team endured a double blow, succumbing to spirited challenges from both Imo (1-0) and Kaduna ,3-1). The female hockey team, despite a valiant effort, also tasted a narrow defeat against the formidable Kaduna Queens.
Mohammed Balumi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, expressed his palpable disappointment with the team's initial outings. However, he remains optimistic, holding out hope that the Yobe athletes, now hopefully more rested, will display renewed vigor and deliver improved performances as the festival progresses.
The Director of Sports Yobe State, Dr. Mohammed Ago said all hopes is not lost, at least with the Female Hockey Team which Still has two matches to compete for.
