19th NSF: Rivers Weightlifters Target Eight Gold Medals

Three weeks after the sec
ond phase camping for the 19th National Sports Festival, (NSF), the Rivers State Weight Lifting Association has expressed confidence that it would surpass the number of gold won at the “Eko 2012” Sports Fiesta.
The association pledged to win at least eight gold medals at the forthcoming sports festival tagged “Paradise Games 2014”, scheduled to hold in Calabar, Cross Rivers State.
Assistant Coach of the team, Reginald Briggs stated this week in an interview with Tidesports in Port Harcourt.
According to him, the State government has done its part by camping the athletes in preparation for the task ahead and provided the necessary support to motivate and enhance their performance, adding that, it is now left for the team to do their part.
For him, “To whom much is given, much is expected, we have been prepared adequately, we on our part are determined to do the state proud”, he said.
Coach Briggs also said that he has capable hands to achieve his target and reiterated his promise to do the state proud come November this year in Calabar.
Meanwhile, the Weightlifters have gone to their various stations pending when the third phase of camping commences, which is expected to last one month to further fortify the athletes before the festival proper.
However, those athletes based in Port Harcourt have been training for the competition.
It would be recalled that the State Weight Lifting Association won five gold medals at the 18th edition of the NSF competition held in Lagos.

A Rivers weightlifter showing off his skills at a recent meet. Photo: Chris Monyanaga