‘Team Rivers In ‘Killer’ Form’

Edward Osim, winner of Gold medal

The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, has said that the state is determined to defend its title at the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival (NSF) in Lagos.

Rivers State hosted and won the 17th edition of the games with a total of 299 medals comprising 135 Gold, 79 Silver and 85 Bronze medals.

Semenitari told the Tidesports in Lagos yesterday that the gold medal won by Team Rivers through Edward Osim in cycling was a sign of good things to come.

Rivers cyclist, Osim won Gold in the cycling event.

The commissioner said the state cycling team was the best in the country.

“We are very excited but it did not come as a surprise. The Rivers Cycling team is the best in the country and they have always been.

“We are not surprised that they have been able to sustain and defend their gold because they do not have a competitor in the country.

“And, this is just a further proof of what we said that the Garden City Games was not a fluke and this is an opportunity to again use the best of our talents in Rivers State and we are quite proud of our cycling team.”

The commissioner said the state was determined to defend the title it won in the 17th edition of the Games it hosted in 2011.

“We are determined to defend the title. The Governor of Rivers State, Rt Hon. Chibuike Amaechi had said that severally.

“The leader of the team Rivers, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Tele Ikuru did promise that we will defend that title, we will retain that title and we are determined to do so.”

Semenitari urged other members of Team Rivers to emulate the cycling team and win more medals for the state.