17th NSF: Association Charges LOC On Facilities

In order for Rivers State to host the forthcoming  17th National Sports Festival successfully, the president, National Association of Athletics and Technical Officials (NAATO) in the state Belema Dakoru has advised the Local Organising Committee (LOC) to put the right personnel to man the right places for the fiesta.

Dakoru, gave the advice in an exclusive interview with Tidesports, in Port Harcourt at the weekend.

He observed that the state have a lot of talented and veteran sportsmen and women that can organise and execute a befitting sports festival.

“We have the potentials to host the best sports fiesta in the state, but the most important thing is to put the right persons in the right positions for the festival”, he stated.

Dakoru, who is also the Chief Coach of University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) expressed surprise over the non-commencement of proper training and provision facilities for the sports festival.

“Uptil now, the facilities are yet to take shape and athletes are yet to commence serious training programmes,” he said.

He called on the local organising committee and other authorities to move towards making things happen at the various sites of their Option B if the initial choice of option has been abandoned.

He, however, expressed confidence that before the festival proper facilities would be on ground for a successful hosting.

Tonye Orabere