Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Barrister Abayomi Oke, on Thursday, showered praises on the organisers of the U-16 South-West Hockey Foundation (SWHF) tournament for a job well done.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 5th edition of the competition is ongoing, while the final will be played on November 24 at the Main Bowl of the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan at 9 a.m. daily.
All the six South-West states are represented at the tournament.
The schools are: St. Mark Commercial Grammar School, Osogbo, Osun, Ado Grammar School, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti.
Others are: Government College, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nawarudeen Secondary School, Obantoko, Ogun, Ekemagba Junior High School, Epe, Lagos and Aquinas College, Akure, Ondo State.
Government College, Ibadan, Oyo State, won the 3rd and 4th editions to become the defending champions of the unique and classical championship.
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The commissioner, however, in his opening speech said he was happy to be the chief host, while he also showered encomiums on the trustees and organisers.
He also said that he was happy that the competition was holding in the pace setter state.
Oke promised his maximum support for the success of the competition at all times.
He said that apart from being the chief host, “it is a thing of joy to see this happen in our domain, and expressed the hope that it would boost the morale of the students.
“It will keep the players mentally alert and enable them to know that one can equally become great in life being a hockey player like footballers and basketball players.
“I promise not to relent in my efforts to support the tournament to ensure its wide acceptability and development of sports in general.”