Rivers Darts Team Rue Poor Performance

The Rivers Darts team has rued its poor performance at the  17th National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt, as its counterparts in others sports are coasting home with gold medals.

The team has only won two bronze medals in the seven categories of the event decided so far at the festival.

Anthony Akanfe, Head Coach of the team blamed the development on the quality of players presented for the event by the State.

“The players we presented cannot match their counterparts  from other states due to inexperience and lack of exposure.

“Players from Benue, Edo and Delta who are presently doing well at the event, have Darts academies where they are given adequate training and incentives.

“By attending these academies, they become employees of their respective state governments, which makes them give their best whenever they represent the states,” he said.

Akanfe noted that despite the development, his players had done well and could improve if the necessary ingredients for success are provided for them.

Captain of the team who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told our reporter that the accommodation problem which confronted the team at the commencement of the event, unsettled them.

“We had to sleep inside the team’s bus for two days before arrangements for our accommodation was sorted by the state’s sports council.

“Most of the successful teams at the event had their accommodation issues sorted out early by their states, as the organizers of the festival made no provisions for the accommodation of Darts and Golf athletes; being elite sports,” she said.

The bronze medals won by Rivers at the event were through Ugochukwu Peters in the 701 Singles male event and Queeneth Nwachukwu in the TDB Singles female event.

Benue is leading in the gold medals haul at the event with four gold medals followed by Edo with three.

Benue increased its gold haul on Monday by winning the 701 Singles male event and the 501 female event through Orngu Terlanga and Orban Membe respectively.