18th NSF: Ebonyi’s Participation Under Threat

Ebonyi state’s participation in the zonal preliminaries for the National Sports Festival is uncertain as it would depend on the resources available to the state sports council, an official said this week.

The Ebonyi Director of Sports, Dr Emmanuel Utobo,  said this in an interview with newsmen in Abakaliki before the team’s departure for Enugu, venue of the zonal preliminaries.

He said the state contingent would participate in four team events and its participation in both male and female categories would be determined by the resources available.

He said, “Every morning and evening, you come to the stadium and see them training——all the ball athletes: handball, volleyball, basketball and football.

“We proposed to participate with the males and females but we will only participate based on our resources.”

According to him, the state government has done its best to motivate the athletes to perform well at the competition.

“It is now left for them and their officials to ensure they represent the state creditably to enhance its rating for the National Sports Festival proper.”

He noted that the state had identified its areas of weakness and would improve on its last performance at the National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt where it came 34th, adding: “We will not disclose our strategy now but we will surprise the country at the forthcoming festival in Lagos in November.

“We call on private individuals and organisations to complement government’s efforts in developing sports in the state.