NSSF Unveils Mascot For 5th Schools Sports Festivals

The Rivers State Government in conjunction with the National Schools Sports Federation, NSSF, yesterday unveiled the official mascot for the 5th schools sports festival tagged ‘Rivers 2013’ scheduled to commence in Port Harcourt on the 24th of this month.

The unveiling ceremony was held at the multi purpose hall of Alfred Diette Spiff Sports Complex, Port Harcourt.

The mascot, named Smiling Chaare is an Alligator, an amphibious reptile found in the mangrove swamps of Rivers State and depicts the friendly, playful passionate, intelligent and fast attributes of Rivers State and sportsmen.

Speaking at the event, the state’s Commissioner for Sports and chairman of the Local Organising Committee, LOC, Hon Fred Igwe, declared that the state, NSSF, National Sports Commission, NSC were ready for the fiesta. He expressed hope that everything needed to make the festival a success would be ready and on ground before kick off.

Hon Igwe told the pupils and students at the ceremony that they were the hopes of tomorrow and would be the next talents to represent Nigeria in competitions.

Also speaking, the president of NSSF, Mallam Ibrahim Mohammed, expressed joy at the renewed interest and focus on the development of grassroots sports through the schools. He regretted the abandonment of the first level of sports development, children, which robbed the country of opportunity to perform up to her potentials.

“But now, the Rivers State Government has approved for all Nigerian school children to come to the state and compete”.

According to him, “The motto of the NSSF is determination, discipline and success”. The objective is not to win at all cost but to participate, we’re interested in showcasing the children to the nation, they’re the future generation and some of them have not even travelled to their local government headquarters before”.

The NSSF president added that the federation is encouraging unity discipline among the children. “Let the children interact and understand themselves, their state, their country”, he said.

He expressed appreciation to the Rivers State Government for giving the Nigerian children a chance to showcase themselves.

In a related development during a press briefing on Wednesday, the NSSF president had disclosed that the festival would hold at the Ultra Modern Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports Complex.

About 7,000 school children are expected to participate and competitions will be held in three categories, U-13 for primary school, U-15 for Junior Secondary Schools and U-17 for Senior Secondary School children.

He advised overaged athletes to stay away as a coordination of national associations would be involved in the screening exercise.

Tonye Orabere