The Head of Service in Rivers State, Mrs Esther Anucha has expressed delight over the successes recorded by the Inter-Ministerial Football Competition tagged HOS cup in the State.

Mrs Anucha bared her mind while declaring open the 2012 edition of the competition at Sharks FC stadium, Monday as part of activities lined up for this year’s Rivers State public service week.

She remarked that the competition had proved to be a forum for physical exercise, entertainment, moral booster and building of united civil service in the state.

The Rivers HOS noted that the event which started in 2009 with 18 participating teams, increased to 28 this year, adding that the development is an indication of the acceptability of the competition.

“There is need for workers to exercise in order to stay healthy and fit to perform their duties” Mrs Anucha added.

Mrs Anucha who announced the introduction of female relay-race in the event, however, urged the teams, athletes and their supporters to exhibit high spirit of sportsmanship throughout the competition.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health FC has defeated their Works FC counterpart 4-2 through penalty shootout at the opening match of the competition last Monday.

The match which started behind schedule due to late arrival of Ministry of Works team saw their Health counterparts display soccer artistry in order to pocket the three points at stake.

But the Works FC proved to be a hard nut to be cracked, culminating to 1-1 draw at regulation time before the penalty shootout.

In an interview with sports journalists shortly after the match, Chairman of Rivers State public service week, Dr George Nwolu noted that there is no financial reward for tricycles to be won during the competition .

He also debunked the allegation of poor publicity for the event, adding that the attendance to the competition would improve as the event progresses.

Isaac Nwankwo