Bimbilla (NR), Oct. 31, GNA - The 2nd Northern Regional Sports Festival has ended at Bimbilla in the Nanumba North District at the weekend with the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly emerging as the overall winners.

The Tamale Metro teams emerged as winners in soccer, the male volleyball competition and were adjudged as the best in athletics. Mr. Gabriel Yaw Missodey, Northern Regional Sports Development Officer who briefed the GNA Sports in Tamale after the end of the competition said that the games ended peacefully and that the region had unveiled a lot of talents in many of the disciplines.

He said the 18 districts competed in field and track events including soccer, volleyball and athletics at the weeklong games, which was on the theme: "Building Ghana through Sports and Unity". Mr Missodey said the successful completion of the games in Bimbilla was an indication that the National Sports festival, which is slated for Tamale in November would chalk equal success.

He said the Region was abound in many talents and that it was important for the government and other sports loving individuals as well as corporate bodies to place premium in the three northern regions to hunt for such talents to improve sports in the country.

Mr Missodey said many of the competitors distinguished themselves well an indication that they could even represent the country in other international events and expressed the hope that the region would perform well in the impending National Festival.

The Regional Organiser mentioned some of the competitors as Ms Fatima Yakubu who emerged as the best female athlete from West Gonja, Master William Akuka, best male athlete from the Tamale Metro and Ms Salifu Laila, best female volleyball player from the Saboba-Chereponi District.

The rest are Master Alhassan Aminu, best male volleyball player from the Tamale Metro while Amidu Yakubu emerged as the overall best footballer of the tournament.

The best individual performers received cash prizes of 50,000 cedis each while the best Districts including the overall best, Tamale Metro received 100,000 cedis each and a football and the second placed teams received footballs.

Mr. Saed Salifu, Nanumba North District Chief Executive was commended for providing free accommodation for all the participants and officials to grace the games in Bimbilla as well as on behalf of the District Assembly for awarding the prizes.