By Our Correspondent

The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, will flag off the maiden edition of the MASVI Invitational Cycling Race on Saturday, February 29, 2020.

Frank Ilaboya, the Chairman of Owan West Local Government Area disclosed this over the weekend in a chat with sportswriters in Benin City.
He said the Deputy Governor who is in charge of sports in the State was elated about sports development in Owan West particularly cycling.

“The Deputy Governor is quite impressed with the development of the sport in Owan West and has promised to perform the flag-off ceremony of the cycling tournament. In fact, he has also extended his appreciation to the CEO of MASVI & Sons Nigeria Ltd, Mr Sunday Ajayi, for helping out to train the athletes for the National Sports Festival holding in Benin from March 21 to April 1, 2020.”

Over 70 Cyclists drawn from eight states of the federation are expected to take part in the one day tour of Owan West.”
The male cyclists are to ride 100 kilometres while the female will do 80 kilometres. The routes will take them from Ozalla, Uhonmora, Eme Ora and Avbiosi New Site.

From Avbiosi, the riders will hit Uzebba to Okagboro where they will make a detour to Okpuje and back to Uzebba before riding to Sobe, via Ifon for the final destination.
The Technical Director of the Nigeria Cycling Federation (CFN) Bashiru Mohammed praised the Executive Chairman of Owan West and MASVI for putting Cycling first in their agenda.

“Kudos to Mr Ilaboya and Mr Ajayi for identifying with CFN at a time sponsors are hard to come by. My humble appeal to other states chairmen is that they should emulate Hon. Ilaboya by sponsoring cycling in their various Local Government Areas,” Mohammed stressed.