Mixed Reactions Trail Sports Festival

Reactions have continued to trail the organisation of the ongoing 17th National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt during the rainy season as rain disrupts most  sporting activities.

Some sports enthusiasts who spoke in separate interview with reporters yesterday in Port Harcourt said that weather should be taken into consideration when organising such events.

Some also said that season or weather had nothing to do with the festival noting that the financial strength and right time for host state had to come to play.

Samuel Dawodu, Abula Former National Technical Director told reporters that weather should be the first factor before sports festival was organised.

Dawodu who also heads officiating section said that Abula supposed to have been over for the ongoing event but rain delayed the events up till Wednesday.

He also said that the National Sports Commission (NSC) should make it mandatory for hosting state to organise the festival during the dry season.

“We have to stop the players each time the rain starts for them not to slip off their feet, big events like this ought to take place during dry season,’’ he said.

Agbem Gambo, National Kokowa (Traditional Wrestling) Coach said that rain does not disturb his sport despite its outdoor nature.

He said rain also make the fighters happy when it is raining because they gain more strength since their body will be cooled.

“We cannot force the host state to organise festival during dry season, they have the right to organise anytime they have their money,’’ Gambo said.

Kehinde Ajayi, Chief Coach, Lagos State Tennis Association also said that subsequent organisation of the festival must be organised during the dry season for most court of field events to be considered.

“Even in the world today, they put weather into consideration before any sporting competition, I was surprised when we later heard that this festival will hold in June,“ he said.

Chief Coach, Taraba State Wrestling Association, Bakari Shamaki said that though his sport is an indoor one but outdoor sports should be considered when organising festival.

Chidi Opara, an Abula player from Delta State said that she welcome the idea of hosting during the rainy season adding that heat and mosquitoes would have dealt with her in their hostels.