Rivers State is poised to clinch another  Eko 2012 gold medal today when her women’s volleyball team takes to the court against their Delta counterparts in the final match of the event at the Teslim Balogun Stadium complex.

The Rivers team, who has been in impeccable form at the festival yesterday secured its place in the gold medal match  with a ruthless display of exciting volleyball against Gombe State.

The Rivers girls, as in previous matches notched a three sets to nil victory over Gombe to set up the final match with rivals, Delta State.

Delta also beat Lagos three sets to nil in their semi final match to hold an impressive record coming into the final match.

In the men’s event, Team Rivers was less fortunate as its men team fell to their Lagos counterparts. The Rivers men could neither put their acts together nor find their range in the semi final match and collapsed to a three sets to nil defeat.

They will now try to leave the festival with at least a bronze medal when they clash with Imo, one set to three losers against Ondo in the third place match today.

Rivers male hockey team falters, females eye semi.

After what promised to be another double entrance into the medal range for Team Rivers in hockey at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Lagos, the male team yesterday failed to deliver in its quarter final match.

The team, which won a protest against Ekiti State for fielding ineligible players in their matches, bowed out to a narrow 0-1 loss to Delta State in closely contested last four match.

Team Rivers had gone into the match in high spirits, expecting to secure a semi final ticket, but despite all their efforts, including several short corner opportunities, they failed to break Delta State’s defence.

 A solitary second half goal ensured that the team was eliminated and Delta into the semi final stage.

However, Rivers female team will today try to redeem  the squad as it tries to overcome Plateau State in  a quarter final match that will see them berth within medal range.

The team reached the quarter final courtesy of slim 1-0 victories in their preliminary matches.

But speaking on the condition of anonymity, one of Team Rivers players said that they have resolved to, henceforth, make their matches safe and not take chances on their fate during games.

Team manager of the hockey teams, George Jumbo agreed with the player. He said that the team has the potential to go all the way to the final because it is a good team and has been trained very well.