Sports
Eko 2012: Delta, Rivers, Others Celebrate Victories
As curtains were drawn on the 18th National Sports Festival, NSF, tagged Eko 2012, on Sunday there were many celebrants celebrating different shade of overall victory at the Games.
Delta State, which garnered a total of 116 golds, 97 silver and 75 bronze medals to win the sports fiesta were in triumphant mood as it savoured the recapture of the sports festival title.
The contingent was joined by the state governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan for a thanksgiving service in Lagos before the closing ceremony on Sunday.
According to the Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Hon. Fred Igwe, Team Rivers did very well to finish second considering all the unfair treatment and outright victimization it suffered at the fiesta. Also, the fact that the state produced the meet’s fastest man to claim the 100 metres gold medal which he described as the king of athletics, was a cause for celebration.
He was full of commendation for the spirit and performance of Team Rivers.
Similarly, host sate, Lagos was celebrating its triumph in the football event.
Lagos state governor, Babatunde Fashola had declared during the closing ceremony that is state beat others to the most popular medals, the men’s and women’s football gold and deserved to be recommended.
Other states, such as Edo, Bayelsa, Cross River, among others were happy with themselves.
Some of the attendants who spoke in separate interviews said that they had not enjoyed such sales in recent times.
Sales Manager of S.O.O. and Bros Ltd., Arinze Okoli, said they had not enjoyed such sales in the last two years and lauded the Lagos State Government for staging such a memorable festival.
“We have not made good sales in the last two years as we had it during the festival. And it was very encouraging for our business,” Okoli said.
Sales Manager of VCN Sports Plaza, Kingsley Nwanosike, said that his company recorded a huge increase in sales, with a lot of customers besieging their shops to demand for various sports items.
“We recorded a significant increase in our sales; the patronage was very high because many people who came for the festival purchased some of their sports items from us,”he said.
A sales girl with Sebob Sports Ltd., Chioma Anyanwu, said that they made up to N100,000 daily from their sales during the 14-day fiesta.
“The festival had a positive impact on our business; we always made daily sales close to N100, 000 and above throughout the period of the festival,” she said.
The festival, tagged “Eko 2012,” which started on November 27, ended on December 9.
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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