18th NSF: Team Rivers Begins Camping, Friday

The Rivers Commissioner for Sports, Mr Fred Igwe yesterday said Team Rivers would commence closed camping from Friday to prepare for the 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos.

Igwe, who disclosed this after inspecting facilities at the athletes’ camp within the premises of the State Sports Council in Port Harcourt, said that Rivers would strive to maintain its title.

He, however, did not disclose the duration of the camping for the festival, tagged: “Eko 2012’’ to be staged from November 27 to December 9.

It will be recalled that Team Rivers won the 17th edition hosted by the state in July last year with 135 gold, 79 silver and 85 bronze medals.

Delta came second with 82 gold, 89 silver and 81 bronze medals, while Edo finished third with 46 gold 41 silver and 43 bronze medals.

Gombe and Sokoto states finished without any medal.

The commissioner said that some of the sports associations had remained focused by training ahead of the Games.

He said that some of them had represented the country in different international tournament this year and won laurels.