Sports
NSF: RSG Promises Best Facilities For Games
Rivers State Government has re-assured the people of the state that all facilities to be used in the 17th National Sports Festival tagged “Garden City Games” billed to hold in Port Harcourt, early next year would be the best and test runned before the commencement of the sports fiesta.
Hon Boma Iyaye, Commissioner for Sports in the state gave the assurance when he paid an unscheduled visit to the site for the game which is under construction.
The commissioner expressed satisfaction with the level of the ongoing construction work, especially the nine lane international standard swimming pool.
“I am particularly very happy over the level of work at the site, I am really impressed, especially the swimming pool. That is near completion”, Iyaye said.
He called on the contracting firm, Veltrop Nig Ltd to expedite action, in spite of the fact that they just received the pre-fabricated panels and urged them to begin the installation of the panels on the pool next week.
Engr Goddy Nduaka, who represented the company assured the state government that the pool would be ready soon, saying that their partners from Spain would be in the country this week to continue the work.
“Auxiliary facilities such as the viewing centre, technical rooms and other important areas of the pool will also be ready and tested before the games”, he said.
Engr Nduaka, commended the state government for effectively playing her part in terms of finance, adding that the contractor is now owing the government and the people of the state, a responsibility to deliver the pool on time.
However, he expressed sadness over the poor state of the access road leading to the project site.
It would be recalled that the state Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi had earlier said that he would be one of the first persons that would swim in the swimming pool when completed.
Tonye Orabere
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.