Anambra Targets 10 Gold Medals At Sports Festival

Chidiogo Mbanefo, Anambra Director of Sports (Operations), says the state aims to win 10 gold medals at the 17th National Sports Festival.

The festival holds in Port Harcourt from June 27 to July 11.

Mbanefo told newsmen at the Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium, Onitsha, that athletes in the combat sports would help the state to achieve the target. He said that the state had comparative advantage in the combat sports, especially boxing and judo.

The director said the coaches and athletes had raised their training to ensure undisputed wins in their events.

He said that the state would be represented by 195 athletes while 40 others had been sent home.

“We want a situation where only the best that will give us our target are selected and to check redundancy and truancy among our athletes during the festival,” he said.

On the weather, Mbanefo said that Onitsha presented a good cold weather for the athletes’ preparation since they might meet the same condition in Port Harcourt.

He said that the sports ministry had made adequate arrangement for the welfare of Team Anambra.

In a related development, Innocent Nwaokocha, Boxing Coach of Team Anambra, told newsmen that he was expecting at least three gold medals from 10 of his boxers.

“We have worked so hard and I am sure we will not disappoint the state. We have trained to the highest and toughest standard.

“And we have received a lot of encouragement in terms of finance and kits from the sports ministry unlike before,” Nwaokocha said.