19th NSF: Rivers, The Team To Beat -Director

The Director of Sports, Rivers State Sports Council, Sir Daobu Harry, has declared that Team Rivers would be the team to beat at the forthcoming 19th National Sports festival, NSF, Christened Centenary Games, scheduled for Calabar, Cross River State later in the year.
According to him, the state contingent would be prepared and ready to slug it out with all states, including the hosts and particularly, Delta State in its bid to regain its number one position which was established during the 17th edition, Garden City Games in 2011 and lost narrowly to Delta at Eko 2012.
Sir Harry made the declaration yesterday in his office during a trophy presentation ceremony by some of the state’s teams that participated in recent national competitions.
He said that Team Rivers has had the first and second phases of camping preparatory to the NSF proper and would leave no stone unturned in the bid to conquer in Calabar.
The Director’s confidence was obviously bolstered by the performances of some of his teams that returned with laurels from various national competitions.
Four different teams, Canoeing, Rowing & Yatchting Association, Judo, Handball and Cycling Associations all finished tops in their respective competitions.
The states canoeing team was in Lagos in April for the water regatta Championships and claimed the winners trophy, the Judo team also emerged overall winner of the First Honourable Prince Timothy Nsirim National Judo Open Championship held in Benin from sixth to nineth August.
In the National U-15 Handball championships held from 16th – 24th August, the state’s team swept the stakes and returned with three trophies including the Most-Valuable-Player award won by Samuel Dango.
Also, the Cycling team continued its domination of the country’s circuit by beating all comers to win four trophies and 10 out of the 15 events competed for at the F.T. Saddle championships in Lagos.
Cycling coaches, Emmanuel Onasanya and Joy Nwachukwu equally came out first and second respectively in the veterans male and female categories.
While commending the coaches and athletes for their efforts and exploits, Sir Harry urged them not to relent in training because the efforts form part of preparations for the NSF.

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