17th NSF: Rivers Athletes Miss Camping Schedule

The camping of Rivers State athletes scheduled to recommence on the first of this month towards the 17th National Sports Festival has failed.

The failure of the exercise, Tidesports learnt may not be unconnected with the unreadiness of the facility billed to be used by the athletes.

Sources close to the Rivers State Sports Council disclosed that the situation may adversely affect the programmes of the council and athletes, as the state which hosts the National Sports Festival continues to purse its desire of hosting to win.

However, the Public Relations Officer of the sports council, Barisi Wifa, has said that the camping was being delayed due to the slow pace of work by contractors handling the renovation at the Iriebe camp ground.

He stated that the state’s director of sports, Sir, Daobu Harvest Harry and the P.R.O would visit the camp to see the progress of work done.

“We are going there today (Thursday) to see the level of work done, because, it is what we have on ground that will  enable use go into camping. We will be hard on the contractors in order for them to expedite the completion process”, he said.

Wifa noted that the camping has dragged on for too long adding that, it may disrupt the adequate preparation of the Rivers contingent, should it be allowed to continue.

Meanwhile, the coaches and athletes who were ready to go into camping are now waiting for a new date for the camping exercise.