11th May, 2011
In its bid to make a considerable impact at the Port Harcourt 2011 National Sports Festival, the Lagos State Sports Council, LSSC, has opened camp for at least 1,100 athletes.
The Festival, which had suffered several postponements, will begin on 26 June in the Garden City.
Chairman of LSSC, Agboola Dabiri told P.M.Sports at the Rowe Park, Yaba, Lagos yesterday that the athletes, who have since 1 May, commenced camping and would be reduced to 800 at the end of the month for closed camping for the sports fiesta proper.
According to Dabiri, the athletes will undergo daily training at four centres across the state. The centres are Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere; Rowe Pak Sports Centre ,Yaba; UNILAG Sports Centre also in Yaba and Yaba College of Technology.
“The several postponements, which the festival suffered affected many states, including Lagos, which is eager to feature in the national competition. I’m glad to say that the council, in its bid to ensure a good outing for Lagos in Port Harcourt, has ordered the camping of the athletes since 1 May,” said Agboola.
“The unique thing about the preparation is that each member of the Sports Council has been assigned to some sports associations for monitoring. They would be reporting to my office on a daily basis to monitor the progress in camp.
“Unlike in previous outings, there is unity among members of the Sports Council with the ultimate aim of taking Team Lagos to a good outing in this year’s Festival and I want to assure that we won’t disappoint,†he said.
—Emmanuel Osodi