19th NSF: Finance Holds Up RSTTA Preparations

The Rivers State
Table Tennis Association (RSTTA) has said that it was yet to commence training for the New Year’s sporting activities and the forthcoming 19th National Sports Festival (NSF) scheduled to hold later this year, in Calabar, Cross Rivers State because of its poor financial condition.
Secretary of the body, Tekenah Lulu Poleubo, said this on Tuesday, in an exclusive interview with Tidesports in Port Harcourt.
According to him, most of the athletes are based outside the state and there has to be a welfare package for them if they must come for training.
At the moment, the association has advised their coaches and athletes to trains privately as they prepare for the NSF, since the association was not buoyant enough to foot its bills at the moment.
“Yes it is the responsibility of the state government to cater for the players upkeep and other allowances, but I think that things are not yet in place due to the upcoming general elections in the country scheduled to hold February 14 and 28”, he said.
However, he stated that the athletes have been instructed to train. individually especially, those who play in clubs as to keep them fit to compete effectively when the festival eventually gets underway.
It would be recalled that the festival which was scheduled to hold in November, 2014 was postponed to 19th April, this year.