19th NSF: Rivers Athletes Commence Closed-Door Training

There is strong indica
tions that Rivers State Sports Council has adopted closed door preparation for 2014 National Sports Festival scheduled to be held in Cross River State later this year.
Tidesports gathered that the closed door preparation is aimed at ensuring that other states do not know the level of preparation of the Athletes representing the state in the festival.
Authoritative source in the council told Tidesports that no nation goes to fight a lost battle, adding that the state is doing everything possible to come out successful at the festival.
The source also revealed that council had embarked on a three phase camping exercise at different venues in the state which include, Civil Centre, University of Port Harcourt and the Newly Constructed Adokiye Amiesimaka Sport Complex.
When the Tidesports visited the weightlifting gym at Alfred Diete-Spiff Sports Complex, Port Harcourt, the coach of the team refused to speak on level of preparation but there were indications at the gym that the weightlifters are in high spirit and also responding to training rules and regulations.
It would be recalled that Team Rivers finished second position in last year’s edition of the National Sports Festival held in Lagos State.

Uzoigwe Chikwere

Table tennis players struggling for honours during a national event in Port Harcourt, Rivers State recently. Photo: Chris Monyanaga.