BY ONAH ORKANYICHUKWU CLEMENT
Sunday Stephen and Joy Yakubu were the cynosure of all eyes at the Indoor Weightlifting Gym at the Old Port Harcourt Township, Niger Street as the Weightlifting trials for the 2026 Niger Delta Games (Edo 2026) took centre stage on Friday.
In the male category, Sunday was the standout performer, lifting a massive, combined Total of 240kg (112kg snatch, 136kg clean and jerk) to punch his ticket to the games.
In the female category, Joy Yakubu led the pack with a total of 183kg, closely followed by Chinasa Joy with 180kg.
Head coach of the Rivers State Weightlifting association, Coach Lasbry Kalio, who oversaw the trials, declared his team ready to sweep the stakes in Edo State, and targeted three medals each from each member of his contingent.
“My expectation is three golds from each lifter,” began coach Lasbry.
“We have worked hard on these lifters, and I know that our hard work will produce results,” he concluded.
Peace Awowuku, who made the final cut with a 150kg total voiced her sentiments ahead of the Games.
“I am very impressed and I am expecting a successful competition,” she said.
Meanwhile, Head Coach of the Football Team, Isaac Thomas Atombere (“Coach Tama”) was an extremely busy Man on Friday during the trials of the football trials of Team Rivers ahead of the 2026 Niger Delta Games.
Tama went on to give a candid assessment of his squad. He revealed that while the boys are hitting their stride (70% ready), the girls are currently at 55% readiness.
Coach Tama noted that logistics remain a hurdle in building team chemistry, as players are traveling from distant Local Government Areas like Abua, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, and Ogoni.
Striker Chika Phillips echoed these concerns, urging the committee to assist with transport fares, but remained confident in the squad’s solid midfield and disciplined defense. Winger Serina Eferebo added that the team has the “speed, creativity, and work rate” to finish on the podium.
On the basketball court, Head Coach of the Female team, Dagogo Okumba, admitted that the team’s preparation has been impacted by the lack of a closed camp.
“I am not giving the state confidence that we are going to win the Gold because our acting is a little bit poor, but surely we are in a medal position,” Okumba noted honestly.
However, his players seem ready to defy the odds. Boma Apiness insisted she is “100% sure” the team will bring home the gold, while teammate Hefziba Igoni embraced the “underdog” tag to prove a point to the region.
OFFICIAL SELECTION: Weightlifting
Male Lifters selected/total weight lifted
Joy Yakbu (Total: 183kg)
Chinasa Joy (Total: 180kg)
Christiane Ollorwa (Total: 165kg)
Peace Awowuku (Total: 150kg)
Makplang Lucas (165kg)
Blessing Saturday (130kg)
Awaji Williams (70kg)
Alice Ollume (35kg)
Happiness Ukwu (30kg)
Male Lifters selected/total weight lifted
Sunday Stephen (240kg)
Obinna Okachi (160kg)
Wisdom Manddaddy (160kg)
Friday James (150kg)
Alexander James (150kg)
Jay Jay (148kg)
Tom George (145kg)
Patrick Patrick (137kg)
Osbert Kingsley (135kg)
Goddy Wisdom (120kg)
Bright Felix (112kg)
David David (110kg)