20th November, 2012
The Director of Sports, Akwa-Ibom State Sports Council, Anedi Dickson, said on Monday that Team Akwa Ibom would be the team to beat at the forthcoming 18th National Sports Festival, NSF.
Dickson made the remarks during a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN in Lagos.
The Director of Sports said that Team Akwa Ibom’s objective at the 18th NSF is to participate and make an impact.
He said that in spite of the dearth of training facilities in the state, the athletes had demonstrated total commitment to the goals of the team.
“Well, for us in Akwa-Ibom, in our little way, we are trying to prepare thoroughly for the NSF and we have been in camp for the last three weeks.
“And that’s exactly what happened to us in Port Harcourt; we are towing the same line and we hope to be in Lagos in time, to enable our athletes to be able to aclimatise adequately.
“We are working to ensure that we are able to leave our mark in every possible way, at the festival,’’ Dickson said.
When asked about the size of the contingent, Dickson said that the final selection process was still ongoing.
“For now, we have about 396, but you know, normally, when athletes are in camp, they will be screened according to the rules and regulations of the festival.
“Thereafter, we plan to downsize to the range of about 279,’’ the director of sports said.
NAN reports that Team Akwa-Ibom emerged finished in the eight positions at the 17th NSF in Port Harcourt in 2011 with 17 gold, eight silver and 26 bronze medals.