Anambra Targets 15 Gold Medals – Director

Anambra State contingent to the 17th National Sports Festival is targeting to win 15 gold medals during the games.

The state came with a total of 256 athletes and officials to the Garden City Games which began on June 27 at different centres in Port Harcourt.

The state Director of Sports Services,Mr. Cyprian Amuzie told correspondents  in Port Harcourt yesterday that Team Anambra’s target was to improve on the 23rd position it took at the 16th edition of the festival held in Kaduna in 2009.

He said the contingent would participate in games which are medal hopes and its areas of strength.

Amuzie also said facilities being used for the games were fantastic and that accommodation challenges were being addressed.

 ‘’ Well,in terms of facility, the Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium is a superb one, even though the road leading to it is still under construction, otherwise,that would have been a fantastic thing.

“Then other logistic problem we have is that accommodation was not sufficient but I believe that according to the chairman of the Local Organising Committee and the vice chairman of MOC, who is the deputy governor of the state,we know that by today, the issue of accommodation will be solved.

‘’Because, according to him ,after yesterday’s meeting ,he went to the Senate of the University of Science and Technology to discuss with them to have a closure of the school for at least ten days.

“That will ease the accommodation problem”  he said.

The director said heavy traffic on the road could hinder smooth movement of athletes and officials and expressed optimism that as the games progresses, the situation would be brought under control.

He urged the people of Anambra to be hopeful that the contingent to the festival would do them proud.

“If we win the 15 Gold medals, we will surely finish among the first ten states’’  he said.

Mike Mbonye