The MTN CHAMPS Season 3 Classics highlighted young Nigerian athletic talents, with over 2,000 athletes participating in various events. Delta State’s David Efetobore and Grace Oyibu emerged as standout performers. The initiative aims to empower young athletes, leading to further competitions in Lagos and the grand finale in Uyo.
The MTN CHAMPS Season 3 Classics concluded its Day 3 on March 15 at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, showcasing the talents of over 2,000 young athletes from Nigeria. This vital event aimed at enhancing grassroots athletics featured competitions across cadet, youth, and junior categories, emphasizing the development of potential stars in the sport.
Notable performances included Delta State’s David Efetobore, who dominated the senior boys’ 100m and 200m events, clocking an impressive 21.53 seconds in the latter. In the junior girls’ division, 15-year-old Grace Oyibu from Onicha-Ugbo Mixed Secondary School won the 200m with a time of 24.57 seconds, illustrating her strong athletic promise.
The competition also spotlighted younger talents such as 12-year-old Joel Oghele, competing resiliently in the youth boys’ 200m against older contestants. Bayelsa State emerged notably in the junior girls’ events, securing multiple podium finishes that highlighted their emerging prowess.
Bambo Akani, founder of Making of Champions (MoC), expressed his contentment with the expansion of the event, stating, “We started Season 1 here with around 1,000 athletes; now that number has doubled.” He also announced that athletes from the Team MTN MoC Academy had successfully debuted after nine months of training in Lagos, earning several medals along the way.
Looking forward, Akani indicated that the performances would be evaluated to select Most Valuable Performers (MVPs) for the upcoming Season 3 Grand Finale in Uyo. He noted, “The juniors and youths especially came out in strong numbers. About 1,000 youth athletes competed.”
The journey of the MTN CHAMPS Season 3 will progress to Lagos for the Continental Relays from April 9-12 at YabaTech and UNILAG, concluding with the grand finale planned for April 30 to May 3 at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. This initiative, consistent with MTN’s commitment to community empowerment, provides vital pathways for young athletes to develop professionally through competitions, mentorship, and academic opportunities.
The MTN CHAMPS Season 3 Classics has successfully highlighted the emerging talents among Nigeria’s youth athletes, with significant performances and expansions noted in this year’s event. As the initiative progresses towards its grand finale, it underlines MTN’s commitment to fostering athletic development and providing essential platforms for upcoming athletes to thrive professionally.
Original Source: bhmng.com
