National Youth Games: Team Gombe set for closed camp but loses one slot to Bauchi state

Gombe State qualified athletes set to begin closed camping on Friday 31/8/2018 ahead of the 2018 National Youth Games in Kwara state to be hosted by Kwara state University Ilorin. 

Over forty players are expected to be camped at the Pantami stadium for four days in order to get them set for the Games. A close source to the Gombe state Sport Commission confirmed that preparations are in top gear in an effort to get Team Gombe ready for the championship.

However, some reports have emerged stating that Gombe state Gave its Bauchi counterpart the female hockey team slot due to lack of finances.

This reports was confirmed by a close source to the Commission for whose name withheld. In an interview with the close source in the Commission, he said "We have to give out the slot to Bauchi state because we do not have the financial strength to sponsor them".

This development means that the Gombe female hockey team will not be part of the team heading to Ilorin for the National Youth Games. 

However, I asked the source why they had to give out a female team and not the male team, he explains  "the male team were the best team in the zonal elimination,and they will be good in the main competition to win medals".

Meanwhile, during the elimination games at Jalingo Taraba state, Gombe state were able to qualify for two games which includes Hockey and Beach Volleyball. 

There are other individual games that Gombe state have registered for. check the table below for a complete list of games Gombe United will take part in and the number of athletes in each game.

Games	Male	Female
Judo	2	2
Karate	2	2
Athletics	18
Badminton	2	1
Boxing	2	2
Chess	4	4
Cycling	2	2
Gymnastics	2	2
Table Tennis	2
Taekwondo	2	1
Traditional wrestling (Kokuwa)	1	1
Weightlifting	2	2
Para-athletics	1	1
Canoe	5	3
Aquatics	4	4
Hockey
Beach Volleyball

 Team Gombe departs on Wednesday 5th September 2018 and preparations reaches its peak.