The Kaduna State Commissioner of Sports Development, Prof. Benjamin Gugong, says Governor Uba Sani has reconfigured the Ministry of Sports Development and increased funding for sporting activities in the state.

The commissioner said this has translated to Kaduna State’s improved rating in sports.

Gugong made this known to newsmen at the weekend while speaking on Kaduna State’s performance at the recent National Youth Under-15 Games held at Asaba, the Delta State capital.

Gugong disclosed that Kaduna State bagged 12 medals, including five gold medals, four silver medals, and three bronze medals, making it the subnational with the highest laurels in the North West zone.

He said: “Kaduna State came first in the North West, second in the North, and 11th in the entire country. This is the best outing that the state has made in the National Under-15 Games.

“And with the support that Governor Uba Sani has been giving the Ministry of Sports Development since he assumed office, our athletes will better this record in coming competitions.”

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The commissioner said before the 8th edition of the U-15 Youth Games, Kaduna State athletes were not put in a camp and given rigorous training but Sani “approved funds which enabled us to camp our athletes for one whole week”.

“Before then, Kaduna State hosted the North West at the zonal elimination series in preparation for the National Youth Games. We bore the financial burden and won all the Team sports,” he said.

Gugong added that Sani has been encouraging sports development in Kaduna State by returning some of the state’s sporting facilities to the ministry.

Gugong said the Kaduna Township Stadium, Zaria and Kafanchan Township Stadiums have been returned to the Ministry of Sports Development from the abolished Metropolitan and Municipal Authorities.

The commissioner further stated that Governor Sani wants to create a conducive environment “where scouts will come to Kaduna State and sign lucrative contracts with our athletes”.

The Star