17th NSF: Dikio Lauds LOC Over Successful Games

A Sports enthusiast in Rivers State, Barrister Faye Dikio has commended the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the recently concluded 17th National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt, for making the “Garden City Games 2011”, a huge success.

Dikio, who made the commendation recently in Port Harcourt, described the opening and closing ceremonies as the best ever to be witnessed in the annals of the National Sports Festival in the country.

According to him, the efforts of the security sub-committee and the operatives should also be commended given the fact that there were no incident of crime all through the fiesta. He said that the situation went a long way to show that the police did their job very well.

Reacting to the allegation that Rivers State was buying medals, Dikio said that the allegation was mischievious and classified the carriers of such unfounded allegation as those working against the growth of football in the country.

“I can assure you that such allegation does not perturb me since it is obvious that people must talk one thing or the other, whether you win or lose,” he added.

The legal luminary continued that if Rivers people were using money to buy medals, then why should most of her athletes lose out badly in some events, noting that the state would have bought all the medals at stake.

“I will however advise Rivers athletes and their handlers to see the allegation as an omen which will propel them to sustain the standard they have exhibited and if possible, climb higher in subsequent National Sports Festival so that their detractors who are wagging tongues over their feat will be forced to swallow their words.”

Earlier, Barrister Dikio had applauded the wonderful performance of Team Rivers at the “Garden City Games 2011.”

“I am highly surprised by the excellent performance and position attained by Rivers athletes on the medals chart,” he said.

It would be recalled that Rivers State climbed the first position with a total of 299 medals, 135 golds, 79 silver and 85 bronze medals followed by Delta State who clinched 82 gold, 89 silver and 81 bronze while Edo state bagged third position with 46 gold, 41 silver and 43 bronze.