‘Team Rivers Still Eyes Overall Trophy’

Despite its current  second position on the medals table after Day-Eight of the ongoing National Sports Festival in lagos, Rivers state Commissioner for Sports, Hon Fred Igwe has expressed optimism that defending champions, Team Rivers can still turn the table and successfully defend its title by emerging tops at the end of the fiesta.

Igwe, who spoke to news men yesterday at the Teslim Balogun stadium yesterday said that despite the fact that Team Rivers has been facing so many odds, including gang-ups, there was still high optimism that the state would excel.

“Rivers state has worked hard for this festival and against obvious odds,we shall excel”, he said.

As at 4.30pm yesterday, Delta state state leads the official medal table with 42 gold, 36 silver and 26 bronze medals, Rivers state is second with 32 gold, 21 silver and 25 bronze medals, while Hosts, lagos is placed third with 18 gold, 18 silver and30 bronze medals.

Edo state and Bayelsa states are fourth and fifth with 13 gold, nine silverand19 bronze and 13 gold, seven silver and 12 bronze medals, respectively.

On his part, the chairman of the Rivers state sports Council, Charles Paul said that it has become clear that the environment at the festival has been hostile to Team Rivers.

According to him, “The initial disqualification of one of Team Rivers multiple gold medal prospect in swimming, Duotimi  Gagbe , was a ploy by some states to undermine the state and sabotage its chances of emerging tops at the festival.”

Duotimi, a seven gold medallist in the pool at the last festival was initially suspended by the authorities following a petition from Bayelsa state that she was their athlete and she missed one event as swimming commenced two days ago. She was, however reinstated yesterday and she began with one gold in the women’s 200m breast sroke event.

In some of the events concluded yesterday, Team Rivers added one more gold and silver medals in cycling’s Two-men Time Trial and Two- women Time Trial events, respectively.

Team Rivers also won two gold medals in 20km Walk event in men and women categories through Usain Yinusa and Joy Davis, respectively.

There was also a gold medal in Ayo on Monday.