A contingent of over 200 athletes and officials from Kano State has arrived in Kaduna ahead of the three-day North-West Zonal Eliminations for the 2027 Intermediate Games scheduled to hold in Lagos.
The Independent Mirror reports that the contingent comprises athletes, coaches, organising secretaries, medical personnel, journalists and officials of the Kano State Sports Commission, led by Dr. Bashir Ahmad Maizare.
In a statement signed by the Commission Information officer Ashiru Rabiu Gidan Tudu said, the three-day zonal eliminations will end on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
The athletes are expected to compete in team events, including basketball, volleyball, handball, hockey and football, among others.
Addressing the contingent before their departure, the Executive Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Alhaji Muhammad Tukur Babangida, charged the athletes and coaches to be good ambassadors of Kano State.
Babangida said the Commission had done everything possible to ensure that all members of the contingent received their allowances, aimed at motivating them to excel in the zonal eliminations.
He warned the athletes and coaches that the Commission and the state government would not tolerate indiscipline, urging them to project the good image of the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf through sports.
The Chairman, however, commended the state government for releasing funds for the contingent and appealed to the team to reciprocate the government’s gesture by emerging victorious at the end of the eliminations.
The Intermediate Games were introduced by the National Sports Commission (NSC) as part of the Federal Government’s commitment to discovering young, skilled and talented athletes for future national and international engagements.
It would be recalled that the Intermediate Games, which were earlier scheduled to hold from October 1 to 15, 2026, have been rescheduled to the first quarter of 2027 to allow for further preparations and ensure a successful, world-class inaugural edition in Lagos.
