Osun Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Stephen Kola Balogun, admitted Wednesday that the death of Team Osun's Leader of Delegation to the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival (NSF), Omotayo Yusuf, has dampened the morale of its athletes.

Yusuf suddenly took ill during a Dambe match at the Abalti Barracks venue of the event.

Balogun stressed that in spite of the incident, the athletes would strive to do their best, in memory of the late team leader.

"The team leader's death is quite demoralising, but nevertheless, the athletes will rise to the occasion.

"They will now try their best and make sure that they do their very best.

"So that the efforts of the team leader will not be in vain, they will rally round and do that, but it is certainly a setback," he said

When asked to assess the performance of Team Osun at the ongoing 18th NSF, he told NAN that the athletes have performed fairly well.

"We have won one gold, one silver and a couple of bronze medals. I think that considering the size of Osun, I don't think they are doing that badly.

"I think that they are being stable and that's alright for us at this stage. So, I think that I can say that I am satisfied with their performance, so far," he added.

Yusuf was said to have slumped while watching a Dambe match at the Abalti Barracks in Surulere, Lagos on Tuesday, but was confirmed dead at a medical facility, thereafter.

Team Osun finished in the 25th position at the 2011 'Garden City Games' in Port Harcourt.