Imo Set To Challenge Delta, Others At NSF

The Imo Sports Council has begun a talent hunt for athletes to represent the state in the National Sports Festival billed for Port Harcourt in November.

Director of Sports, Goddy Agbarakwe told newsmen in Owerri that the objective was to discover athletes who could regain the state’s lost glory in sports.

He noted with regret that the state had become a mere participant in the sports fiesta in recent years.

“For a very long time, Imo has been there to participate, but this time, we have planned to change all that for the better”, he said.

Imo came first in 1996 when it hosted the Games, seventh in 2004 and 2006 respectively and eighth in 2008.

Agbarakwe warned Delta, Lagos, Edo and Oyo States that Imo would no longer be a watcher, but would compete with them for medals.

“We have started preparations.  We have already started going to every nook and cranny of the 27 local government areas of the state.

“All sports council officials in the local government areas are working hard to fish out budding talents with the association secretaries and coaches”, he said.

The director said the sports council would start weekend sporting activities and organise seminars for the coaches and secretaries.

He said old athletes who had participated in the Games for the three mandatory times would be invited to transfer their skills to the discovered talents.

Agbarakwe said the athletes would be prepared in 25 sports for the team and individual events.

“We are concentrating on all the 25 sports, including the team, track and field as well as combat events”, he said.